PRIME MINISTER

Scotland Act

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has made a determination under section 87(3) of the Scotland Act 1998.

Tony Blair: An announcement will be made in due course.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Darfur

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in bringing to justice the perpetrators of human rights abuses in Darfur.

Ian Pearson: The international criminal court is proceeding with its investigation into events in Darfur. We will offer the court whatever assistance it requires. We call on the Government of Sudan itself to bring the perpetrators of human rights abuses to justice; to co-operate fully with the ICC; and to prevent further abuses.We are proposing to Security Council partners a list of individuals responsible for atrocities in Darfur, against whom UN sanctions should be imposed.

Darfur

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in Darfur.

Ian Pearson: There has been further fighting in Darfur between the forces of the Government of Sudan and rebel groups recently, as well as between different militias and tribal groupings. There have been attacks on civilians, humanitarian workers and the AU monitoring mission. And the general level of banditry remains high.
	We call on all the parties to respect the ceasefire and reach an early political settlement. We are taking the actions outlined by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Joint Economic and Trade Committee

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current work programme of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee.

Ian Pearson: The Joint Economic and Trade Committee is a bilateral mechanism for businesses to raise issues of concern for action by the Indian and UK Governments. It aims to encourage the Indian Government to open more sectors to foreign investment and increase trade and investment opportunities for British business.
	Indian and British businesses are participating in working groups for agribusiness, accountancy services, health care, hi-tech clusters, legal and financial services and infrastructure.

Iran

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave earlier.

Iran

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iran's relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave earlier.

Ethiopia

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Ethiopian Government on disturbances in the country.

Ian Pearson: We remain concerned about the situation in Ethiopia. We have called on all sides to exercise restraint, avoid confrontation and violence, and respect the law.
	Ministers and officials raise our concerns regularly. Since December, my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for International Development and my noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, have all discussed developments with the Ethiopian Prime Minister personally.

Zimbabwe

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his EU counterparts to discuss EU sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Ian Pearson: At the 30 January General Affairs Council my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary joined his EU colleagues in renewing sanctions against Zimbabwe for a further year. This decision reflected the European Union's strong concern about the human rights situation and failure of governance in Zimbabwe. We remain in close touch with EU partners to maintain a firm international response to the crisis.

India

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Varanasi, India after the recent bombings.

Kim Howells: The atmosphere in Varanasi is said to be tense, though there has been no significant violence following the bomb attacks on 7 March. The central Government in Delhi has appealed for calm and has offered police assistance to the state government of Uttar Pradesh. Religious leaders across the board have condemned the attacks. Our high commission in New Delhi will continue to monitor the situation.

Iraq

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Iraq.

Kim Howells: Despite attempts by terrorists to derail the political process, Iraq's leaders recognise they have an opportunity to form a Government of national unity, committed to a common programme, promoting genuine power sharing and helping to overcome sectarianism.
	We continue to urge them to agree the formation of such a Government as rapidly as possible. We understand the inaugural meeting of the Council of Representatives will be held on 16 March.

Iraq

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of women's participation and representation in the Transitional National Assembly of Iraq.

Kim Howells: Women play an important part in Iraqi politics and were well represented in the Transitional National Assembly. 70 have been elected to the new Council of Representatives. We hope women will be well represented in the new government.
	Equal opportunities are enshrined in Iraq's new constitution. And President Talabani has pledged that state institutions will not neglect women's rights. We will continue to work to support this.

Ascension Island

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been allocated by the Government to promote scientific research and study on Ascension Island in each of the last seven years.

Douglas Alexander: During the last seven years there has been one scientific research project funded by the Government. This was a mapping and geographical information system project carried out on Ascension Island in 2004–05 at a cost of £48,900. This was funded through the joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Department for International Development Overseas Territories Environmental Project fund.

Belarus

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Belarus regarding the arrest, imprisonment and intimidation of opposition leaders (a) Anatoly Lebedko and (b) Vincuk Viacorka in the period leading up to the presidential election on 19 March.

Douglas Alexander: The intimidation of Anatoly Lebedko and Vincuk Vyachorka is just one example of a pattern of harassment of the opposition by the Belarusian authorities. The Government deplores such harassment and, in addition to action in Minsk, the UK regularly makes its concerns clear to Belarusian representatives at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Vienna and via the EU in Brussels.

British Diplomatic Posts

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries in Africa do not have a UK ambassador based in that country.

Ian Pearson: There are currently 23 African countries where the UK does not have a resident ambassador or high commissioner. These are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Swaziland and Togo.

Costa Rica

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what plans there are to host a visit from Oscar Aria, President-Elect of Costa Rica, in the UK;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on UK-Costa Rican relations.

Douglas Alexander: The Government welcome the successful holding of democratic elections in Costa Rica and congratulate the new President-elect, Oscar Arias Sanchez, on his victory. Relations between the UK and Costa Rica remain strong and we look forward to working with President-elect Arias and his new government. There are currently no plans for a visit by the President-elect to the UK.

Departmental Relocation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many jobs in his Department have been relocated to Wales since 2001.

Jack Straw: None.

Dominican Republic

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will raise the human rights situation of Haitian migrant workers during the forthcoming visit of President Fernandez of the Dominican Republic; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic will visit the UK as a guest of the Government from 21–24 March 2006. Dominican Republic/Haiti relations and the human rights situation are always on the agenda when we speak to Dominican Republic Ministers, and we look forward to a constructive exchange on these and many other issues with President Fernandez and his accompanying Ministers during the visit.

Guantanamo Bay

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he and (b) his officials have received evidence of the use of dogs as part of interrogation techniques at Guantanamo Bay detention centre.

Kim Howells: Following allegations of prisoner abuse at Guantanamo Bay detention facility, including the use of dogs during interrogation sessions, Lieutenant General Randall M Schmidt conducted an investigation of the detention and interrogation operations there. His report confirmed that dogs had been used during interrogation sessions on two occasions but that the practice had since been specifically prohibited. The full report, the Army Regulation 15–6: Final Report Investigation into FBI Allegations of Detainee Abuse at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Detention Facility", is available at: www.cfr.org/publication/9804/schmidt_report.html.

Hudood Ordinances

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the implementation of the Hudood Ordinances in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We remain concerned about the infringement of human rights through the Hudood Ordinances, which enforce strict forms of punishments such as whipping, amputation of limbs and death for breaking the law. We are particularly concerned by the ordinance relating to the offence of Zina (Fornication/Adultery) which increases potential injustices against women. Victims of rape, or even gang rape, have been accused of Zina and thereby subjected to wrong and unjust prosecutions. This has often left victims ostracised by their families and communities.
	The UK would like to see all of the Hudood Ordinances repealed and the Pakistan Penal Code should be amended to provide appropriate legal guidelines to enable a more coherent approach to prosecuting rape and adultery cases. Failing a full repeal, we would like the Government of Pakistan to consider amending the ordinances to ensure that they are not discriminatory towards women.

Iran

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of comments by the Iranian negotiator Hassan Rowhani on 4 March 2006 on Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: As the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has documented in successive reports, Iran has long lacked transparency about its nuclear activities. The nature of Iran's nuclear activities, its record of concealment, its failure to co-operate fully with the IAEA, and its failure to take necessary confidence building steps have contributed to the deep concerns of the international community that Iran's intentions regarding its nuclear programme, may not be, as it claims, exclusively peaceful. It is precisely for this reason that we, with France and Germany, and with the support of the EU high representative and other members of the international community, have engaged in our diplomatic efforts. The remarks attributed to Hassan Rowhani serve only to underline the urgent need for Iran to address the requests made in successive IAEA Board resolutions, including by suspending all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities.

Lesotho

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the political implications of the recent attempt to assassinate Lesotho's Foreign Minister; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We are concerned by the events of 29 January and are monitoring developments closely. The Lesotho police continue to investigate the case. No arrests have yet been made in relation to the shooting. At this stage, it is unclear whether the shooting was politically rather than criminally motivated. Our high commissioner in Pretoria wrote to Foreign Minister Moleleki on 1 February, to offer his sympathy and that of my noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham.

Natural Disasters

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2007–08W, on natural disasters, whether the individuals involved in Hurricane Katrina had been (a) alerted to the danger and (b) advised to evacuate by (i) the local authorities and (ii) his Department; what class of ticket they travelled on; for what reasons return flights were required; what factors underlay the level of departmental financial support supplied; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office frequently amended its travel advice to British nationals during Hurricane Katrina and advised British nationals in the area to track the hurricane and pay attention to advice from local authorities and the media. We also published web links to US agencies who offered advice on how to prepare for storms and to meteorological sites who monitored her progress. When Katrina hit, we advised of causalities and widespread damage and disruption. The Mayor of New Orleans ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city on 28 August.
	We are constantly improving our consular response to British nationals caught up in mass casualty incidents overseas. If there is a major catastrophe, we will consider whether to offer exceptional help to those British nationals who are directly affected, bearing in mind the circumstances of the catastrophe and the resources available. In line with this, we put in place a version of the assistance package used for the Asian tsunami to help British nationals affected by Hurricane Katrina. The package includes: up to five nights accommodation for any residents and visiting British nationals in desperate need; business class return flights for those resident in the US who had lost homes, belongings and funds; flights for any bereaved families to travel to the US if appropriate and repatriation of remains if appropriate.

Nepal

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Nepalese Government on human rights.

Kim Howells: The UK has made regular representations to the Nepalese Government on human rights. We have also made repeated public statements deploring human rights violations by both the Nepalese security forces and the Maoists. Most recently, senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials met the Nepalese ambassador on 2 March and raised our concerns about the continued detention of political leaders and activists, and peaceful demonstrators. Prior to that we have registered our concern about physical abuses and the infringement of democratic and civil rights with the Government at all levels, including with the King after he took direct power of the country last year.
	In seeking to address human rights issues we have sought to coordinate closely with our EU partners. In October 2005, as Presidency of the EU, the UK led an EU directors level Troika delegation to Nepal. The Troika raised human rights issues with many of its interlocutors. In a press statement at the end of the Troika's visit, the Troika said:
	"We urge the Government and the security forces to lead by example in respecting human rights, to tackle urgently the prevailing culture of impunity, and to use security legislation with utmost caution".
	The Troika also registered its concerns about the Government's enforcement of repressive restrictions on the media in Nepal and said that freedom of expression was a fundamental prerequisite for an effective democracy and the recent Media Ordinance infringed upon the right to freedom of expression.
	In a more recent statement on 27 January, the UK joined the EU in responding to the recent escalation of violence and political unrest, which also addressed the issue of human rights in Nepal. This is available on the following website:
	http://www.eu2006.at/en/News/CFSP_Statements/January/2701Nepal.html

Nepal

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Nepalese Government on the restoration of democratic government.

Kim Howells: The UK has made regular representations to the King and Government of Nepal, calling on them to restore democracy and pursue a negotiated political settlement to the conflict involving all of the main actors. Most recently, on 2 March officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office met with the Nepalese ambassador and registered our ongoing concerns about the democratic deficit in Nepal. We also conveyed our concerns about the continued arrests and detention of political activists, restrictions on the media and the absence of consultations between the parties for a full return to democracy, including through elections. Prior to that we have registered our concerns about the infringement of democratic rights with the government at all levels, including with the King after he took direct power of the country last year.
	In seeking to address the restoration of democracy in Nepal, we have sought to coordinate closely with our EU partners. In October 2005, as presidency of the EU the UK led an EU directors level Troika delegation to Nepal to encourage reconciliation and dialogue between the king, the political parties and the Maoists. The Troika said to the Government of Nepal that an effective multi-party democracy was the only sustainable solution to the problems of Nepal. The Troika also expressed the need for an inclusive and comprehensive negotiated peace process, which will require the assistance of an independent and credible external partner and the active support of the international community.
	More recently, in response to an escalation of violence and political unrest, the EU issued a joint statement on 27 February in which we said that, for elections to be meaningful,
	"it is crucial that they be held in direct consultation with the political parties as part of an exercise to establish a full return to democracy. The fact that no such consultation has taken place means that the planned municipal elections will be another step backwards for democracy and are likely to further polarize positions".

North Korea

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives are of the Government's policy towards North Korea.

Ian Pearson: The Government wishes to see a peaceful resolution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear issue. We welcome the confirmation in the 19 September 2005 statement by the participants in the Six Party Talks process of the DPRK Government's commitment to the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. We urge the DPRK to return to the Six Party talks and implement its commitments, including verifiably dismantling its illicit weapons programmes and resuming its engagement in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Government also wants to see an improvement in the DPRK human rights situation and raises human rights concerns at every appropriate opportunity.

Parliamentary Questions

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will answer Question 42498 tabled by the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre on 11 January, on Qinetiq.

Jack Straw: UIN 42498 was tabled to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will reply shortly. The hon. Member tabled a question on Qinetiq to me on 11 January (UIN 42537) which I also hope to reply to shortly.

St. Helena

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits to St. Helena by Government Ministers are planned.

Douglas Alexander: Foreign engagements for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers are kept under constant review. It is not our practice to announce such visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel.

St. Helena

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States regarding the firing of missiles near St. Helena.

Douglas Alexander: There have been no discussions with the US regarding the firing of missiles near St. Helena. However, discussions were held with the US, in the 1950s, about the use of Ascension Island as a missile testing ground. These discussions culminated in the signing of the agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the extension of the Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground by the establishment of additional sites in Ascension Island on 25 June 1953.

St. Helena

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) British and (b) foreign visitors to St. Helena there have been in each of the last seven years.

Douglas Alexander: St. Helena Immigration Department has provided the following figures for British and foreign visitors in each of the last three years:
	
		
			  British Foreign 
		
		
			 April 2004 to March 2005 378 619 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 359 688 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 276 160 
		
	
	There are no reliable figures for the previous years.

TRANSPORT

Brighton to Ashford Rail Service

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the publication of the Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy, what the most recent daily usage figures are for the direct Brighton to Ashford service; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Department does not hold daily usage figures of services operated by train operating companies.

Brownhills Transport Package

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from (a) Staffordshire county council and (b) Lichfield district council regarding the Brownhills Transport Package.

Karen Buck: We have not received any representations from either Staffordshire county council or Lichfield district council about the Brownhills Transport Package, although the Department is aware of their concerns.

Concessionary Travel

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many councils have made representations to his Department on the introduction of the national bus concessionary scheme.

Karen Buck: To date, the Department for Transport has received 35 representations from local authorities on the introduction on 1 April 2006 of free local off-peak bus travel for older and disabled people.

Concessionary Travel

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects a change in council tax to be necessary to meet funding for bus concessionary schemes.

Karen Buck: The Government are providing an extra £350 million through the formula grant system for 2006–07. It is for local authorities to deicide on their overall funding priorities based on their judgment of local need and circumstances.

Concessionary Travel

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether councils are reducing the level of provision of service as a result of the introduction of a national standard bus concessionary scheme.

Karen Buck: The general consensus is that the extra £350 million for 2006–07 will be sufficient in aggregate to fund the extra cost to local authorities. It is for local authorities to deicide on their overall funding priorities based on their judgment of local need and circumstances.

Concessionary Travel

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities were operating a bus concessionary fare scheme on 31 December 2005.

Karen Buck: All travel concession authorities (TCAs) on 31 December 2005 were required to offer half-fare local off-peak bus travel within its boundary to those 60 and over and disabled people. From 1 April 2006 the minimum entitlement will be improved to free local off-peak bus travel. TCAs are district and unitary authorities, and the passenger transport executives in the metropolitan areas.

Concessionary Travel

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what concessionary travel schemes are operated by local authorities (a) within the local authority area and (b) across local authority areas in addition to the free bus travel for pensioners; and what charges local authorities are making to operate these schemes.

Karen Buck: A survey carried out by the Department in 2003 identified 292 schemes; 85 schemes provided concessionary travel within the local authority or passenger transport executive boundary. The majority of the remainder allowed cross-boundary travel, such as countywide coverage, as part of the local authority's main scheme. Of those, 11 local authorities charged a fee for the enhanced geographical coverage ranging from £5 to £180 per year.
	From 1 April, when free off-peak local bus travel is introduced for residents aged 60 and over and for disabled people, local authorities may, at their discretion, continue to work together to provide cross-boundary travel, depending on local circumstances and overall financial priorities.

Concessionary Travel

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the additional costs of extending the concessionary travel scheme to allow cross-boundary travel;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of additional trips that over-60s and disabled bus service passengers would make if the concessionary travel scheme were to be extended across boundaries.

Karen Buck: None. Cross-boundary concessionary travel is offered at the discretion of the local authority based on their judgment of local needs and their overall financial priorities.

Concessionary Travel

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the total amount private bus providers will spend on complying with the requirements of the concessionary travel scheme;
	(2)  whether his Department has provided additional funding to private bus providers to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the concessionary travel scheme.

Karen Buck: The Government are providing an extra £350 million through the formula grant system for 2006–07. The general consensus is that this will be sufficient to cover the costs to authorities of reimbursing bus operators on a no better/no worse off basis.

Crossrail

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what issues are being considered by the Crossrail Equality Impact Assessment Project and Policy Assessment; what estimate has been made of its cost; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Crossrail Equality Impact Assessment seeks to identify and assess differential impacts that Crossrail may have upon particular groups within affected communities, in order to inform mitigation planning. The assessment process includes both direct impacts from construction or operation and secondary impacts such as effects on equality of opportunity and community relations.
	Cross London Rail Links Ltd. have estimated that its Equality Impact Assessment work, including preparation of the Equality Impact Assessment Project and Policy Assessment Report, published in January 2006, has cost £314,000.
	Consultation has been carried out in line with the code of practice, produced by the Cabinet Office, which was published in 2004.

Crossrail

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact Crossrail would have on the (a) capacity and (b) length of journeys from Paddington to Exeter.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 27 February 2006
	Once operational, Crossrail will use relief lines during normal operation and will not have an impact on fast lines used for longer distance services such as the service between Paddington and Exeter.
	There will be some disruption from enhancement works to the Great Western Main Line between Paddington and Maidenhead that are part of the Crossrail project. The track possessions, which are assumed to be mainly at night and weekends, will be planned through normal industry processes.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how a Crossrail train will be taken out of action once it has entered the core tunnel between Stratford and Paddington.

Derek Twigg: The Crossrail service is being planned and developed to deliver high reliability. The planned trains will be highly resilient and, in the event of a failure in the central tunnel, will be designed to be pushed by a following train to a point where passengers can be safely evacuated. The same operational practice is used on the London underground.

Crude Oil

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions of (a) prices and (b) range of prices for crude oil in (i) 2010, (ii) 2015, (iii) 2020, (iv) 2025, (v) 2030 and (vi) 2050 are being used by his Department in (A) the National Transport Model, (B) the forthcoming review of the aviation White Paper and (C) the draft guidance on railway closures; when the Department last reviewed these prices; and whether these price assumptions have been subject to independent external review.

Karen Buck: The Department's National Transport Model uses fuel prices that are based upon DTI crude oil price projections. We update our fuel price forecasts in line with DTI oil price updates. DTI usually make their oil price projections (which they normally update one or two times a year) publicly available on their website and also subject them to periodic public review—most recently in the summer of 2005 (http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/fossil_fuel_price_assumptions.pdf). Their latest projections are for crude oil to fall from its current high levels to $35 (in 2004 prices) in 2010 and then remain at that level in real terms through to 2020—the end of their projection.
	The Aviation White Paper published in December 2003 says that DfT will continue to update forecasts in the light of trends. Movements in the oil price since publication of the White Paper are clearly one material factor; any further forecasts would need to take into account up-to-date departmental assumptions.
	The draft guidance on rail closures is not itself based on any particular assumption about crude oil prices. Prevailing and anticipated future fuel costs are one of a range of issues which we will expect to be taken into account at the time a specific proposal is made.

Driving (Sleep Problems)

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) undertaken into the link between obstructive sleep apnoea and road traffic accidents; and what plans his Department has to collect information on road traffic accidents in which a sleep disorder is a contributing factor.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport has not commissioned or undertaken such research. The Department is aware however of many studies undertaken by others and in my answer of 2 December 2005, Official Report, column 810W, I explained the steps the Department has taken. There are no plans to collect information on accidents where a sleep disorder may be a factor. Police officers, who collect information at road crashes for the Department, are not trained to recognise specific sleep disorders. However, where appropriate, from January 2005, they have been able to state their opinion whether fatigue may have been a contributory factor. Information on numbers from such reports will be available in due course.

DVLA

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has a lost passport section; how many people on average have complained that their passports have been lost by the DVLA in each of the last five years; whether the DVLA is considering (a) the use of registered mail and (b) other improvements to the arrangements for returning passports; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has a specialist section which deals with all inquiries relating to missing identity documents, including passports.
	Over the past five years the total number of passports reported as missing by drivers was 20,660 (14,968 UK and 5,692 foreign). To date, only 7,740 (5,282 UK and 2,458 foreign) have become the subject of claims for compensation. Approximately 25 per cent. can be attributed to a DVLA error in keying the address, with 75 per cent. due to non-delivery by Royal Mail. Over 12,500,00 applications for first photocard driving licences (i.e. those requiring the submission of identity documents) were processed during this period.
	The use of special/recorded delivery arrangements for the issue of documents has been considered, but this would involve substantial clerical intervention which would mean a significant increase in the fees charged for driving licences. The use of plain fit for purpose envelopes by DVLA has not revealed any widespread problems. Some drivers send their own envelopes for return, but this is a matter for personal choice.
	Holders of UK passports can take their applications to 750 post offices for checking, with the passport returned immediately. DVLA's local offices offer the same service and will also check EU passports and those from certain other countries where agreements for the exchange of licences exist. DVLA now also has in place a computerised link with the UK Passport Service whereby holders of digitised UK passports need only quote their passport number on their application forms. A check is then made online and the applicant need not send or take their passport anywhere.

Metrolink

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will break down by main budget heading the latest estimated cost of the Rochdale-Oldham Metrolink Extension.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 7 March 2006
	Work on producing detailed cost estimates for the Rochdale-Oldham Metrolink Extension is ongoing. As promoters, GMPTE are leading on this work.

Nuclear Shipments (Carlisle)

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times shipments of (a) nuclear fuel and (b) nuclear waste have passed through Carlisle constituency by rail in the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: Information is only available on shipments of irradiated nuclear fuel flasks from nuclear power stations to Sellafield. Because of the nature of the railway network it is likely that shipments from power stations in Scotland and north east England will have passed through Carlisle. The total number of flasks shipped from these power stations (Torness, Hunsterton and Hartlepool) during the last five years were:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 158 
			 2002 150 
			 2003 170 
			 2004 133 
			 2005 132 
		
	
	A single train may carry several flasks.
	Information is not available on how many of these shipments passed through the Carlisle constituency as the route chosen is a matter for the rail operator.

Pass Plus

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with insurance companies regarding reduced premiums for those that have (a) the Pass Plus and (b) other advanced driving qualifications;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) the Pass Plus scheme and (b) other advanced driving courses on drivers' accident rates;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the Pass Plus scheme on the payouts made by insurance companies for road traffic accidents.

Stephen Ladyman: The Driving Standards Agency administers the Pass Plus scheme. The agency's chief executive chairs the Pass Plus Board which comprises representatives from the driver instruction and motor insurance industries. Some insurance companies offer premium discounts to newly-qualified drivers who have completed a Pass Plus course. Several advanced driving test organisations have negotiated discounts with insurance companies for their members who have passed an advanced driving test.
	The Department has not assessed the impact of the Pass Plus scheme or other advanced driving courses on accident rates. We do not have the commercial data to assess any impact on payouts made by insurance companies for road traffic accidents. The Department commissioned a research project in January 2006 on how to improve the Pass Plus scheme and its take up by newly qualified drivers. This project is due to be completed in December 2007. We are also currently undertaking a large cohort study of novice drivers which includes the collection of data about accidents in the three years after passing the practical driving test. This has collected data on whether subjects in this study have taken Pass Plus training. The Driving Standards Agency is planning work with providers to assess standards of provision of advanced driving courses and ensure that minimum standards are met.

Railways

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the (a) reliability, (b) punctuality and (c) frequency of trains running to and from Gloucestershire; what plans he has to improve those services; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Network Rail, are responsible for monitoring the performance and reliability of the train operating companies. Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and the train operating companies to address performance and these are monitored monthly. In addition, I have held meetings with Network Rail and the train operating companies to discuss performance issues.
	Under the proposed timetable to be introduced in December 2006 by the new Greater Western franchise, Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Stroud Valley will receive an hourly all-day weekday service to Swindon and London (changing at Swindon in alternate hours), with journeys reduced by up to 11 minutes.

Railways

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with (a) GNER and (b) the Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR) held on the rejection by the ORR of GNER's rail service proposals.

Derek Twigg: Officials from the Department have met GNER to discuss the implications of the ORR's provisional decision about additional London to Leeds services as required under the franchise agreement. The Department has since written to ORR.

Railways

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the British Transport police have made of (a) the incidence of vandalism and (b) levels of passenger security at Llansamlet railway station.

Derek Twigg: Llansamlet railways station has not been the subject of a specific assessment by the British Transport police (BTP) due to its low crime levels. BTP has set objectives in its Wales and Western Policing Plan regarding graffiti and route crime that directly target vandalism. A target has also been set around low level disorder which is designed to assist in maintaining passenger security. The station is regularly visited by BTP officers.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the contracts between the Government and Network Rail.

Derek Twigg: There are nine main contracts and a number of other associated agreements relating to credit support arrangements for Network Rail's borrowing to which the Secretary of State is party.
	There are also a number of other contracts and agreements between the Secretary of State and Network Rail mainly relating to franchising, legal, and technical matters. These include five enhancement agreements and a number of agreements made pursuant to them relating to some 20 enhancement projects. A further five contracts and agreements relate to depots in the Integrated Kent Franchise area.
	The Highways Agency also has some 23 contracts or agreements with Network Rail where payment has been made this year. This is regarding maintenance and other works concerning railway structures adjacent to the strategic road network. There are also other agreements against which no expenditure is currently being made.

Railways

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many open access rail licences have been granted since 1997; and for which routes.

Derek Twigg: Since 1997, 11 passenger train operator licences have been granted to persons who were not also franchise operators. Of these, two licences have restricted scopeone authorises trains operating only to Heathrow Airport and one authorises international services only, four are for charter train services only.
	The remaining five licences allow scheduled passenger services on any network. Wensleydale Railway plc operates services on its own network. The remainder operate on the national network, in Merseyside, Tyne and Wear, Stourbridge and between London and Hull.
	The 11 licensed operators are:
	Direct Rail Services Limited (1997) (Charter)
	Heathrow Express Operating Company Limited (1997) (restricted scope)
	Eurostar (UK) Limited (1998) (restricted scope)
	West Coast Railway Company Limited (1998) (Charter)
	Hull Trains Limited (2000)
	FM Rail Limited (2002) (Charter)
	Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (2002)
	Merseyrail Electrics 2002 Limited (2003)
	Wensleydale Railway PLC (2003)
	Pre Metro Operations Limited (2004)
	Advenza Freight Limited (2006) (Charter).

Railways

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what restrictions he has placed on increases in the number of trains run by operating companies; and which of these restrictions apply to trains running to and from Staffordshire.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport does not restrict franchised passenger train operators from running additional train services. This applies equally to the three franchised passenger train operators (Central Trains, Virgin Cross Country and Virgin West Coast) providing services in Staffordshire.

Railways

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of his Department's staff work on rail timetables.

Derek Twigg: The Department has 14 staff who work on rail timetables.

Railways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there has been in the number of trains operating in excess of capacity for each franchise since 1996; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 14 February 2006
	Passengers in Excess of Capacity (PIXC), applies to weekday commuter trains arriving in London between 07:00 and 09:59 and those departing between 16:00 and 18:59 for the train operators. This information, from 1996 to 2004 inclusive, is set out in the Office of Rail Regulation's publicationNational Rail Trendscopies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Railways

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that train operating companies and British Transport police improve security at stations in Lewisham;
	(2)  if he will provide assistance to Lewisham council to pilot partnership approaches to improving security at and around stations.

Derek Twigg: South Eastern Trains and Southern, in partnership with Transport for London, are improving CCTV systems at stations within the London borough of Lewisham. The Department continues to work with the Office of Rail Regulation, Network Rail and train operators to encourage and promote such initiatives. There is also a commitment for the operator of the new Integrated Kent Franchise to improve station facilities and security across the network. Over 2.5 million will be spent on providing additional help points and installing additional ticket gates at stations, while CCTV systems will be enhanced within the first two years of the new franchise.
	I understand that South Eastern Trains are already in touch with Lewisham council about CCTV on stations in the borough.

Railways

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when Platform 0 at Stockport railway station will become operational.

Derek Twigg: Network Rail advises that passenger services began using the new platform on 8 January.

Transport Infrastructure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment in transport infrastructure schemes to support economic regeneration is being considered in Objective 1 areas in England; what the schemes are; how much public spending is envisaged; and when he expects decisions to be made.

Karen Buck: Three areas of England received Objective One status (Cornwall; South Yorkshire; and Merseyside) At the present a number of major infrastructure schemes (mostly those over 5 million) are being considered and developed. Announcements on funding will be made in due course, following completion of detailed assessment and in light of the advice received from each region on their funding priorities.
	In addition to major infrastructure schemes, each relevant transport authority will be considering transport projects that support regeneration in their areas. These proposals are likely to be detailed in the final second Local Transport Plans due to be submitted to my department by 31 March 2006.
	On 28 February the Government launched a consultation on the UK's draft National Strategic Reference Framework for the Structural Funds from 200713. This will establish the broad priorities for future Structural Funds programmes in the UK, and provide Programme Managers with an initial basis to begin planning for the 200713 Financial Perspective.
	The consultation will end on 22 May, and the Department of Trade and Industry aims to publish a response to the consultation within three months of that date.
	For ease of reference I have provided the information requested in chart form as follows.
	
		
			 Scheme description Est. public sector funding proposed Timetable for decision 
		
		
			 Cornwall   
			 Isles of Scilly Sea Linkreplacement of existing passenger and freight sea connection. The Scillonian III summer passenger ship and the Gry Maritha all year freight and winter passenger service both reach the end of their operational life in 2009. Improvements would also be required to the harbour facilities at both Penzance and St. Mary's. 32 million Bid submittedpossible decision later this year. 
			
			 Highway Agency Schemes   
			 A39 Camelford Distributor Road 6.8 million (approved DfT contribution) Scheme provisionally approved in 2000. Subsequent approval stages dependent on local authority progress with scheme preparation and Ministerial consideration of regional advice on priorities. 
			 A391 St. Austell to A30 Bodmin 30.35 million (approved DfT contribution) Scheme provisionally approved in 2003. Subsequent approval stages dependent on local authority progress with scheme preparation and Ministerial consideration of regional advice on priorities. 
			 A30 BodminIndian Queens 93 million (Latest approved budget) Actual start of worksJuly 2005. 
			 A38 Dobwalls Bypass 36 million (Latest approved budget) Estimated start of works 200607. 
			 A30 Carland Cross to Chiverton Cross 125 million (Latest approved budget) Subsequent approval dependent on Ministerial consideration of regional advice on priorities. 
			 A30 Temple to Higher Carblake Improvement 41 million (Latest approved budget) Subsequent approval dependent on Ministerial consideration of regional advice on priorities. 
			
			 South Yorkshire   
			 South Yorkshire Supertrama bid is currently being considering for funding in respect of two extensions to this system 132 million. A decision on entry to the approval process will be made in due course. 
			 Doncaster A638 Quality Bus Corridor. Scheme to provide park and ride sites and bus lanes on the main Northern and Southern routes into Doncaster, to provide increased journey times. 15.3 million. The Department is currently considering a bid for full approval from Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. 
			 Yorcard pilotThe aim of this scheme is to pilot the use of smartcard technology on selected bus and rail services and assess its impact, particularly on boarding and journey times. Cost to DfT 4 million, total cost 6.9 million. The Department is expecting to receive a bid for Full Approval in the near future. 
			
			 Highway Agency Schemes   
			 A63 West Bawtry Road Improvement 5.028 million (approved DfT contribution) Scheme provisionally approved in 2000. Subsequent approval stages dependent on local authority progress with scheme preparation and Ministerial consideration of regional advice on priorities. 
			 A57(T) Junction 31 to Todwick Crossroads 6.264 million (approved DfT contribution) Scheme provisionally approved in 2001. Subsequent approval stages dependent on local authority progress with scheme preparation and Ministerial consideration of regional advice on priorities. 
			 A628 Cudworth and West Green Bypass 17.198 million (approved DfT contribution) Scheme provisionally approved in 2001. Subsequent approval stages dependent on local authority progress with scheme preparation and Ministerial consideration of regional advice on priorities. 
			 Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route 72. 177 million (promoters bid for funding) Possible decision on scheme new bid approval later in the year. 
			 Waverley Link Road 8.130 million (promoters bid for funding) Possible decision on scheme new bid approval later in the year. 
			 M1 Junction 31 to 32 Widening 20 million (Latest approved budget) To be progressed for future construction beyond April 2008. 
			 M1 Junction 32 to 34S Widening 139 million (Latest approved budget) To be progressed for future construction beyond April 2008. 
			 M1 Junction 34N to 37 Widening 246 million (Latest approved budget) To be progressed for future construction beyond April 2008. 
			 M1 Junction 37 to 39 Widening 224 million (Latest approved budget) To be progressed for future construction beyond April 2008. 
			
			 Merseyside   
			 Liverpool South ParkwayThis scheme will provide: an interchange to local bus services and Liverpool John Lennon airport; a park and ride; and facilities for local passengers accessing rail services. Presently under construction. Contribution of 6.332 million (total cost of 16.043 million) Notification received of a cost increase to 32.171 million and a way forward is now being considered by promoters. 
			 Central Station refurbishment schemeThe scheme will allow access to Liverpool City centre from merseyrail stations extending into the wider city region and beyond. It is the closest station to the major retail development within the Paradise Street Development area. 9.8 million Assessment process not advanced to the point where Secretary of State views have been sought 
			 Rail Freight Access to the Port of LiverpoolThis scheme will increase capacity and efficiency of rail freight to and from the Merseyports. 9 million Assessment process not advanced to the point where Secretary of State views have been sought. 
			 Borderlands Electrification (Wrexham-Bidston Rail line)Scheme will electrify some or all of the line south from Bidston to Wrexham (North Wales) to improve connectivity of the line's catchment to Birkenhead and Liverpool, offering access to jobs and services 35 million Assessment process not advanced to the point where Secretary of State views have been sought. 
			
			 Highway Agency Schemes   
			 Edge Lane West 15.85 million (approved DfT contribution) Scheme provisionally approved in 2004. Subsequent approval stages dependent on local authority progress with scheme preparation and Ministerial consideration of regional advice on priorities. 
			 Hall Lane Improvement Scheme 12.2 million (approved DfT contribution) Scheme provisionally approved in 2002. Subsequent approval stages dependent on local authority progress with scheme preparation and Ministerial consideration of regional advice on priorities. 
			 M62 Junction 6 Improvements 38 million (Latest approved budget) Estimated start of works200708

Transport Infrastructure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the schemes for investment in the transport infrastructure which have been announced by his Department and for which (a) no date has been set for the commencement of construction and (b) funding has yet to be allocated.

Karen Buck: Transport schemes of any significant scale will need to pass through several stages from initial conception to execution. This will include the initial proposal, outline and full business case, planning approval, funding and construction. The Department may make announcements at any or all of these stages to keep Parliament and the public informed and to assist the various stakeholders to progress the project as efficiently as possible. In addition, announcements may be made if for any reasonincluding, for example, changing regional priorities or estimates of costprojects have to be reappraised.
	At any one time there will be a substantial number of schemes which are in the process of being developed and for which final funding allocations or commencement dates have not yet been determined.

Transport Projects

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list transport projects announced by the Government and subsequently cancelled since 1997.

Karen Buck: I ref the hon. Member to the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 20 July 2004, 16 December 2004 and 3 November 2005, and by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 29 November 2005.
	In addition, one other major local transport scheme has been announced and subsequently cancelled by the Government since 1997. The scheme was 'Pegasus' a school transport initiative based in Surrey.

Transport Services (Greater Manchester)

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of Greater Manchester's bus operators have been reported to the Transport Commissioner in each year since 2001; and how many bus operators lost their operation licence as a result of investigations in each year.

Karen Buck: Statistics on licenses issued or revoked and action taken for non-compliance of bus operators are published in the Traffic Commissioners' Annual Report available from the House of Commons Library or www.dft.gov.uk.
	Statistics are published by traffic area rather than geographical location; to break them down specifically to Greater Manchester could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Transport Services (Greater Manchester)

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with (a) Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and (b) Network Rail on improving the passenger facilities at Manchester Victoria Railway Station.

Derek Twigg: Plans for the improvement of passenger facilities at Manchester Victoria Station are a matter for Network Rail, in its role in co-ordinating railway industry planning, and for Northern Rail as the station facilities operator.

Transport Services (Greater Manchester)

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and Network Rail on improving the passenger rail services in the county.

Derek Twigg: The Department has regular contact with officials from Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive on matters relating to improving rail services in the county. Discussions have included work on the North West Rail Regional Planning Assessment, the Network Rail Route Utilisation Strategy, and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive Integrated Transport Strategy.

Urban Congestion Target

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his ministerial statement of 7 February 2006, Official Report, columns 4546WS, on the urban congestion target, what the nature is of the problems discovered with the data relating to public service agreement 4.

Stephen Ladyman: In December, an error was discovered in one of the raw data sources supplied to the Department and which underpin the urban congestion PSA target. One of the data fields was in the incorrect format. The data were subsequently corrected and re-supplied to the Department but had to be reprocessed, thereby delaying delivery to the 10 large urban areas. Quality controls have now been strengthened at all stages of the data delivery and processing.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

African Drought

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much humanitarian assistance the Government has given to drought affected areas in Africa in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: The following table sets out DFID's humanitarian assistance to drought affected countries in Africa in the five years from 200001 to 200405. The table also shows our total humanitarian expenditure in Africa in the same period, including our response to humanitarian crises due to conflict and other causes.
	
		DFID humanitarian expenditure in drought affected African countries (GBP)
		
			 Destination 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Burundi 1,504,278 540,118 1,119,285 3,189,222 5,395,349 
			 Ethiopia 13,773,873 8,222,389 26,824,089 18,511,529 6,719,432 
			 Eritrea 2,188,012 1,472,258 2,600,000 2,219,590 1,064,975 
			 Kenya 12,463,272 3,413,358 1,473,521 228,551 5,517,057 
			 Malawi 229,115 142,421 7,036,164 581,493 4,573,003 
			 Mozambique 9,204,944 907,822 778,916 470,600 27,920 
			 Somali Democratic Rep 1,234,680 1,637,637 2,919,590 3,171,561 3,543,346 
			 South Africa, Republic of 12,884 282,423 94,997 6,658 13,143 
			 Sudan 4,491,075 5,164,105 16,337,941 21,872,096 77,965,269 
			 Swaziland388,988 8,599 
			 Tanzania 1,786,583 51,057 260,015 1,500,005 2,816,524 
			 Zambia 388,184 217,711 6,407,759 1,279,151 398,296 
			 Zimbabwe 225,455 7,242,305 23,259,500 23,959,598 13,753,181 
			 Total 47,502,356 29,293,604 89,111,777 77,379,043 121,796,094 
			 Total humanitarian expenditure in Africa 65,010,000 44,218,000 155,096,000 124,188,000 172,659,000

Arms Trade Treaty

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to encourage (a) Governments and (b) other organisations to support the establishment of the proposed Arms Trade Treaty.

Hilary Benn: Ensuring better regulation of the arms trade is an essential pre-requisite for conflict prevention and development. As a result, DFID has worked very closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to promote the Government's commitment to an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). When the first committee of the UN General Assembly meets this year, the UK will aim to secure a UN resolution which will establish a formal UN-based ATT process. Significant progress has already been made, notably the endorsement of an ATT by the EU Council and the call for negotiations on an ATT from Commonwealth Heads of Government.
	DFID has contributed to a range of FCO-led initiatives, including the May 2005 meeting of experts at Lancaster House in London. This year, DFID is developing a joint strategy with Whitehall partners on how to encourage other countries and regional bodies to actively promote the ATT. This will focus on building wider support for a first committee resolution, and will include awareness raising events and the establishment of a friends of ATT group of supportive Governments. In addition we will use ministerial visits and discussions with partner countries, regional and international organisations to generate support for a resolution. For example, this month we participated in a cross-Whitehall lobbying visit to China.
	In parallel, given the devastating impact of small arms and light weapons (SALW) on the developing world, DFID is working closely with the FCO and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on strengthening language on transfer controls within the existing UN Programme of Action on SALW. When the UN Programme of Action is reviewed in July we will seek agreement to develop a set of politically binding criteria for SALW transfers. In the run up to the review conference DFID will work closely with the FCO to win support for a common text on universal principles for SALW transfers. There has been good progress in developing regional agreement on standards for small arms transfers in Central America and the Horn of Africa/Great Lakes region. Under the Global Conflict Prevention Pool, we have funded non-governmental organisations such as the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) and Saferworld, which work with African Governments and civil society to ensure that African voices are heard in discussions on transfer controls.

Commission for Africa

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether reviews undertaken of his Department's African country assistance strategy paper will incorporate the recommendation by the Commission for Africa on the use of assessments of how to reduce the risk of violent conflict and improve human security in formulating a strategy for each country.

Hilary Benn: The Commission for Africa Report set out a wide range of recommendations for African countries and its donor partners. Each recommendation has its own timetable. This is reflected in the detailed report on what the UK has been doing to take forward the Commission's recommendations and make sure that the G8's commitments are implemented, which has been deposited in the Libraries of the House.
	DFID has been active in carrying out conflict assessments, in recent years, in a number of African countries, including Nigeria, Mozambique, Angola, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia. More recently, DFID has undertaken a range of work to strengthen the analytical basis for its conflict programmes and policy throughout the continent. These activities include commissioning work on long and shorter term conflict trends to inform the Pan-African and Regional strategies of the interdepartmental Africa Conflict Prevention Pool (ACPP). Furthermore DFID's Security and Development paper, completed in the latter half of 2005, and a subsequent internal report also recommended the increased use of conflict assessments throughout UK development programmes.
	The next iteration of the DFID Delivery Plan for Africa will also emphasise the importance of conflict assessments.

Death in Childbirth

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of women who died in childbirth in developing countries in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) country and (b) age group.

Hilary Benn: Maternal mortality is quite difficult to measure over relatively short time periods, and DFID looks to the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to collectively produce global estimates. These are supplemented in some countries by information on maternal mortality obtained from demographic and health surveys conducted every four to five years. From the data available, it is estimated that each year 529,000 women die from complications in pregnancy and childbirth, and that 99 per cent. of these deaths take place in poor countries. With the exception of Afghanistan, the countries with the highest maternal mortality ratios are all in Africa. These include Sierra Leone which has a maternal mortality ratio of 2,000 deaths for every 100,000 live births, and Malawi which has a ratio of 1,800 deaths for every 100,000 live births.
	DFID is supporting research with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Gates Foundation to improve the way maternal mortality is measured. This will enable poor countries to both better track progress of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of improving maternal mortality and to advocate for more resources for maternal health. Some countries in sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing a reversal of previous gains and without considerably more action this MDG target will not be met.

Death in Childbirth

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) plans to undertake to reduce the number of women who die in childbirth in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Over 529,000 women; mostly young, impoverished and vulnerable, die each year as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. Much more effort is needed if the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to lower maternal mortality is to be achieved by 2015.
	This is why DFID launched its strategy 'Reducing maternal deaths: Evidence and action' in 2004. The strategy sets out four clear priorities for action:
	1. to advocate for change and more attention to maternal health globally and in our country work;
	2. to scale-up evidence based interventions, especially the availability of health services that can provide women with the care they need in pregnancy;
	3. to address the wider social and economic barriers to progress, such as gender inequality and to get more girls into school; and
	4. to develop and apply new knowledge, through support for research on approaches to improve maternal health.
	The UK is the only major bilateral donor to have developed a strategy specifically to address 'improving maternal health' (MDG 5). We are also supporting the global Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health which is working to advocate on a much bigger international and national platform.
	Improving maternal health depends on functioning health services, and stronger health systems, with the right staff, equipment, drugs and supplies in place and functioning properly. Women also need to be able to access sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, and care to deal with the causes and consequences of unsafe abortion, as well services to prevent, treat and care for HIV and AIDS. DFID has invested 650 million for health sector support since 2000.
	DFID support in Nepal is addressing all these issues. For example, the remote Baglung district hospital is providing emergency obstetric care (Caesareans), with local nurses who have been trained in giving epidural anaesthesia. Blood transfusions are available, transport is possible because bridges have been built and communications (now through mobile phones), is working. Access to obstetric care is increasing, irrespective of the conflict. And that means that not only are women benefiting, but children with fractured limbs and others who need blood transfusions are getting help.
	In Malawi, DFID has provided 100 million to an Emergency Human Resource Programme. In a country where two out of three nurse-midwife posts are vacant and where only eight out of 27 districts have a Malawian doctor, there is now early evidence to suggest a positive shift. And importantly, pregnant women are beginning to be able to have HIV tests and some are receiving anti-retroviral drugs.
	In 200405, DFID spent more than 243 million on bilateral programmes on maternal health (including sexual and reproductive health) and are continuing to ensure that good country plans which highlight maternal health are fully funded. In several countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Kenya, DFID is investing strongly in specific safe motherhood programmes with a focus on skilled birth attendants and access to obstetric services. We further support maternal health through multilateral support to our partners in UN agencies, the World Bank and the EU.

Engagements

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) public speeches and (b) official visits he has made since 5 May 2005; and how many letters he sent in this period.

Hilary Benn: Between 5 May 2005 and 3 March 2006, I gave 29 public speeches, visited 18 countries (not including visits to Europe) and sent 5,536 letters (including 3,149 standard campaign responses approved by myself and issued under my electronic signature).

Lesotho

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Lesotho.

Hilary Benn: HIV surveillance among pregnant women is undertaken every second year by the Government of Lesotho. Pregnant women are not representative of the general population, though estimations can be made and they provide a useful indicator of the progress of the epidemic.
	Surveillance data from 1991 show infection rates among pregnant women to be in the region of 5 per cent. By 1994 that figure had risen to 20 per cent. By 2003, the last available surveillance data, the prevalence among the general population had risen to 28.9 per cent. Rates of infection among patients with sexually transmitted diseases are much higheroften in the region of 50 per cent. to 60 per cent.
	A recently completed Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), conducted in 2005, did do HIV tests among the general population. The highest HIV prevalence rates was for women aged 3539 years at 43 per cent. and for men aged 3034 it was 42 per cent. These figures are consistent with data for HIV prevalence rates in South Africa and Swaziland. The final DHS report has not yet been released but a copy of the preliminary report can be made available.

Microfinance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he last discussed microfinance with his counterparts in the Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) is a consortium of 33 public and private development agencies working together to expand access to financial services for the poor (including the poorest) in developing countries. CGAP is a trust fund housed in the World Bank.
	While my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I have not personally met with CGAP officials recently, there is a close interaction between CGAP and DFID at international and country level. My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has been personally involved in promoting DFID work on microfinance and remittances, which has benefited from CGAP's work developing good practices in microfinance and helping build microfinance capacity in bilateral and multilateral donors. The CGAP developed the 'Key Principles of Microfinance' that were endorsed by the G8 leaders at their summit in June 2004.
	Recognising the enormous potential for microfinance and the need to set standards, share best practices and improve co-ordination among donors, nine donors including DFID formed CGAP in 1995. DFID chaired the executive committee of CGAP until two years ago, and has contributed 1,250,000 to CGAP core funding since 2001. An additional 250,000 is being considered for the next financial year.
	The CGAP's director and senior officials meet with DFID officials on a regular basis, and there is close cooperation in a number of areas. DFID is assisting the CGAP in developing its Africa Strategy at present, which will increase the CGAP's impact and influence in that priority region. DFID and the CGAP are currently collaborating on research into electronic banking (e-banking projects) and on social cash transfers. CGAP and DFID jointly funded MicroSave Africa, an Africa-based initiative to improve access of poor people to savings and other financial services. DFID also contributed 960,000 to the joint CGAP-DFID microfinance capacity building programme in Africa during 19982003.
	Of particular note, DFID initiated and strongly supported (at ministerial level) the CGAP-led donor peer review process among CGAP's member agencies. The peer review process led to microfinance strategies at institutions such as the African Development Bank and the European Union being revamped and improved.

Philippines

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has provided to the mudslide-affected region of the Philippines; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID carefully monitored the situation following the mudslides of 17 February and concluded that needs were well covered by the Government of the Philippines, which is providing helicopters, military manpower and financial aid for those affected. Donors such as the United States, China, Japan, Australia and the United Nations Children's Fund are also providing assistance. Therefore, although DFID support has not been necessary, we continue to monitor the situation and will respond if needed.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Efficiency Targets

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Solicitor-General what the target level of employment, expressed as full-time equivalents, is in his Department by April 2008, in order to meet his Department's civil service work force reductions target set out in the 2004 Spending Review.

Mike O'Brien: Neither the Crown Prosecution Service nor the Serious Fraud Office were set any work force reduction targets in the 2004 Spending Review. The planned numbers for full-time equivalents for the CPS for April 2008 is 7642; and for the Serious Fraud Office is 300.
	The target for the Treasury Solicitor's Department is to achieve a head count reduction of 36 by 200708 benchmarked against the level of business activity in 200405. The Department continues to recruit staff as business demand grows; but the introduction of efficiencies ensures that the growth of head count is lower than the growth in business.
	The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office did not come into existence until after the SR04 targets were set. The head count reduction set for its predecessor organisation, the Customs and Excise Prosecutions Office was met. The new Department has a target level of full-time equivalents of 270 staff by April 2008.

Efficiency Targets

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Solicitor-General what interim targets he has set for achieving (a) the agreed efficiency target for the Law Officers' Department and (b) the Civil Service work force reductions targets for (i) gross reductions in posts, (ii) net reductions in posts and (iii) relocations for the Law Officers' Departments as set out in the 2004 Spending Review; what the baseline figures are against which these interim targets are assessed; on what dates they will take effect; and by what dates these interim targets are intended to be met.

Mike O'Brien: The annual targets for the efficiency savings and the work force reductions set for the Treasury Solicitor's Department in the 2004 Spending Review are:
	
		
			  Non-cashable savings  ( million) Cashable Savings ( million) Headcount reduction 
		
		
			 200405 0.6 - 6 
			 200506 0.1 0.2 5 
			 200607 0.2 0.4 10 
			 200708 0.3 1.2 15 
		
	
	The CPS was set interim efficiency targets in the 2004 Spending Review as shown in the following table:
	
		Efficiency Savings Targets
		
			  Target deadline Savings ( million) 
		
		
			 200506 31 March 2006 20.1 
			 200607 31 March 2007 26.6 
			 200708 31 March 2008 34.1 
		
	
	
		 million
		
			  200506 200607 200708 
		
		
			 Efficiency Savings Targets 20.1 26.6 34.1 
			 Target Deadline 31 March 2006 31 March 2007 31 March 2008 
		
	
	The baseline, against which the efficiency targets are measured, is the CPS's 200405 Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit of 454.8 million.
	The following table shows the target that the CPS has set to achieve its relocation programme target and the date by which this target is intended to be met.
	
		
			  Relocation schedule 
		
		
			 Relocation Target 40 
			 Target Deadline 31 March 2008 
		
	
	The baseline against which the relocation programme target is measured is the number of posts in the South East and Eastern Service Centres in 200203.
	The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) has no target for the relocation of posts. Its cashable efficiency savings, set against 2004/financial baselines, as amended for additional work transferred to the office, are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200506 0.73 
			 200607 1.46 
			 200708 2.17 
		
	
	RCPO also has productive time targets measured against a baseline of 200405 work force statistics as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200506 0.16 
			 200607 0.32 
			 200708 0.50 
		
	
	The Serious Fraud Office was not set any work force reduction or relocation targets in the 2004 Spending Review; but has efficiency targets to deliver savings of:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200506 1.3 
			 200607 2 
			 200708 2.815

Sentencing Comparison

David Simpson: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will take steps to make information available to allow comparison between judges of their sentencing for offences.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	Sentencing decisions by the judges for offences are a matter of public record. They are often reported by the media and may also feature in the law reports and legal and academic journals. Given the public nature of these decisions the Government has no plans for change.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government has taken to improve animal welfare since 1997; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of these steps.

Ben Bradshaw: This Government are fully committed to improved animal welfare. The Animal Welfare Bill is the most significant piece of legislation in this area for nearly a century. It will introduce a formal duty of care for non-farmed animals and toughen the penalties available to the courts.
	This builds on the work we have already done to improve the welfare of farmed animals. We have worked with Member States to improve legislation in the European Union on transport, laying hens, pigs and general farm animal welfare.
	Further steps the Government have taken include a ban on fur farming, which came into force on 1 January 2003. The introduction of the Hunting Act 2004 also makes it illegal to hunt wild mammals with dogs, and completely bans hare coursing. Work to protect the variety and diversity of wildlife is being taken forward under the England Biodiversity Strategy. We have also put in place a number of specific measures, such as the code of good practice on the use of snares and the production of various technical advisory leaflets on wildlife management.

Animal Welfare

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are being taken (a) to increase detection of and (b) to prevent the mistreatment of farm animals in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: This Government are fully committed to high welfare standards for all farmed animals. We have some of the highest standards of farm animal welfare, including enforcement measures, in the EU.
	The State Veterinary Service (SVS) carries out welfare inspections on farms to check that legislation and the welfare codes are being followed. In addition to spot checks and planned visits, the SVS follows up all complaints and allegations of poor welfare on specific farms as a matter of urgency. Where welfare problems are found, the SVS takes enforcement action, which can include issuing improvement notices requiring remedial action by the farmer or initiating prosecution. Follow-up visits are made to check compliance with the legislation. The SVS also co-operates closely with other organisations such as local authorities and the RSPCA.

Avian Influenza

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the use of vaccination against H5N1 avian influenza in Hong Kong in 200203.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 7 March 2006
	My officials have examined and made assessments of the use of vaccination against H5N1 worldwide, including the outbreak in Hong Kong in 200203.
	Vaccination was used successfully to help eliminate H5N1 in Hong Kong, and this has been well documented.
	However, this experience cannot easily be translated to other countries. The poultry industry in Hong Kong is limited to only a few hundred farms with some backyard flocks. The small size of the territory and its animal health infrastructure meant that it was easier than normal to undertake the monitoring required when using such vaccines.
	In this country, there is a broad consensus that preventive vaccination does not currently provide an effective and efficient means of controlling avian influenza and that good biosecurity followed by housing of birds is the best response to a heightened threat.

Avian Influenza

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures would be followed in order to ban the import of poultry from a country which has cases of H5N1 avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: If there is an outbreak of disease likely to present a risk to human or animal health, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, in a non-EU country, Community legislation allows appropriate safeguard action to be taken, which may include a ban on imports from all, or from parts, of the affected country. In the UK we implement the Community safeguard measures by the issue of a legal document called a Declaration that sets out the details of the ban or trade restrictions imposed. It is a criminal offence to import animals or products in contravention of the Declaration.
	If a serious disease outbreak occurs in an EU member state, appropriate measures to contain the disease, as laid down in Community law, must be taken by the member state in which the outbreak occurs. It is also possible for additional safeguard measures to be introduced, as has been the case in respect of the recent H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks in some member states.

Avian Influenza

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to monitor the import of poultry meat from countries in which avian influenza is present.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 13 March 2006
	Imports of poultry meat from third countries affected by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza have been banned. HM Revenue and Customs has increased checks on passengers, freight and post from those countries, and other enforcement bodies remain vigilant.
	Within the EU, it is the responsibility of the authorities in any member state where the disease has been confirmed to ensure that movement restrictions applying to specified zones around the outbreak are observed. Trade in poultry meat may still continue from areas of EU member states not affected by the disease. HM Revenue and Customs, along with the other enforcement bodies, are aware of the restrictions in place in other member states and have enhanced checks accordingly.

Avian Influenza

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to ensure that the poultry industry cleans and disinfects all crates, containers and modules and other equipment before and after use to prevent the possible spread of avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 13 March 2006
	Under the Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (England) (No.3) Order 2003 any means of transport used to transport animals, including detachable parts such as crates and containers used to transport birds, must be cleansed and disinfected within 24 hours after use or before they are used again. This is enforced by local authorities.
	Defra has issued extensive guidance to all bird keepers encouraging them to adopt effective biosecurity measures. These are also outlined on the Defra website. A list of approved veterinary disinfectants is available from: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/control/testing_disinfectants.htm

Avian Influenza

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent representations she has received about the protection from avian influenza of endangered species kept in zoos; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent representations she has received from rare breed poultry keepers and hobby farmers on the vaccination of birds; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We have received a wide range of representations and are working closely with stakeholders on these issues. Defra is considering a preventive vaccination programme for zoo birds and rare breeds in the UK for conservation purposes. This will be based on a scientific and veterinary risk assessment. If we decide to implement such a programme, it will require prior approval from the Commission.

Avian Influenza

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals for (a) compensation and (b) aid are being considered by the Government should the slaughter of UK poultry be necessary if avian influenza affects the UK poultry sector.

Ben Bradshaw: We would pay compensation for healthy birds compulsorily slaughtered to control avian influenza. If needed, we would also establish a Welfare Disposal Scheme to fund the collection and disposal of poultry.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department is carrying out on products which may be able to destroy the H5N1 virus.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is not currently funding any research projects into the development of products that may be able to destroy the H5N1 (Avian Influenza) virus.
	A list of veterinary disinfectants approved for use in England is available on the Office of Public Sector Information website at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051908.htm.
	Dilutions for use against Avian Influenza (AI) are included.
	A statutory mechanism is in place which allows veterinary disinfectants to be placed on the approved list if they demonstrate efficacy in statutory laboratory testing.

Badger Culling

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the experience of the previous badger culling operations in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, for (a) legal issues, including trespass, and (b) practical issues, including the need to treat setts, in relation to current proposals for a cull.

Ben Bradshaw: We are currently consulting on both the principle and method of a badger culling policy. Experience from previous badger culling operations was considered when developing the consultation document and partial regulatory impact assessment.

Bag for Life Scheme

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the results of the Waste and Resources Action Programme's Bag for Life scheme to be published.

Ben Bradshaw: The Waste and Resources Action Programme hope to publish the results of their study by Easter.

Biosecurity

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out her responsibilities for Government policy in respect of biosecurity matters.

Ben Bradshaw: Guidance on animal health biosecurity for owners of livestock and anybody who comes into contact with, or visits, premises with farm animals is available on the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/control/biosecurity/index.htm. The guidance has been published to meet the Government's obligations under the Animal Health Act 2002.
	In response to the threat of an outbreak of avian influenza, Defra has distributed guidance materials to a range of poultry industry groups who have helped to distribute information to their members. We have also provided leaflets and posters to farmers and local veterinary surgeons and placed advertisements in poultry hobby magazines. Specific guidance on worker protection has been issued by an industry and cross-departmental working group. Information is also available on the avian influenza pages of the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/index.htm.

Bovine TB

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what representations she has received about the veterinary costs involved with the pre-movement tuberculosis testing of cattle;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the costs of pre-movement tuberculosis testing of cattle for farmers; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the implications of pre-movement tuberculosis testing costs for the future viability of the dairy farming industry; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Pre-movement testing will be introduced in England on 27 March following a rapid independent survey of veterinary capacity and preparedness to deliver the new policy. The costs and the impact on the industry were considered by the Tuberculosis Pre-Movement Testing Stakeholder Group. They were also addressed in a Regulatory Impact Assessment, available on the DEFRA website at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/premovement/index.htm
	We will keep the policy under review.

Bovine TB

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the significant wildlife reservoirs for bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: The main wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis in the UK is in badgers. Wild deer are the other significant wildlife reservoir though experts believe they generally present less of a disease risk to cattle than badgers.

Brownfield Sites (Borehole Soakways)

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on applications for the use of borehole soakways on brownfield sites with surface drainage constraints.

Elliot Morley: Under the Water Resources Act the Environment Agency is responsible for controlling discharges to groundwater, taking into account whether such discharges could lead to pollution. Under the Groundwater Regulations 1998, disposals to land which contain substances listed in the Regulations require prior authorisation. For cases where pollution of groundwater might result, the Environment Agency may not grant consent. Thus where surface water contains polluting matter; including listed substances, prior authorisation to discharge or dispose of it is required.
	Under the WFD direct discharges of pollutants to groundwater will be prohibited, subject to certain exemptions which currently do not include surface water drainages.

Carbon Dioxide

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the proportion of carbon dioxide globally which is generated by (a) human activity and (b) natural phenomena.

Elliot Morley: The IPCC Third Assessment (2001) considers carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) generated by both natural phenomena and human activities. Human emissions are estimated to be approximately 8 billion tonnes of carbon in 1990, rising to 9.1 billion tonnes of carbon in 2002, compared to approximately 210 billion tonnes of carbon generated naturally in 1990. However, as natural emissions and their removal from the atmosphere are about balanced, the additional emissions from human activities are extremely significant for the energy balance of the atmosphere.
	Most recent research indicates that in 2002, approximately 55 percent. of human emissions were removed from the atmosphere (5.2 billion tonnes of carbon), leaving approximately 45 percent. (3.9 billion tonnes of carbon) remaining in the atmosphere to cause global warming. This is the reason the Government have introduced a long-term aim to reduce UK CO 2 emissions by 60 percent. by 2050, with real progress by 2020.

Carbon Emissions (New Homes)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on carbon emissions of the development of new homes in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's growth areas.

Elliot Morley: The Government have not undertaken any assessment solely of the impact of the development of new homes in the four existing Growth Areas on carbon emissions.
	Defra and ODPM have, however, jointly employed the consultants Entec to provide a comprehensive report on the range of sustainability impacts (including increased carbon emissions) which would be likely to arise under the scenarios for increased housing supply proposed by Kate Barker. This report took the levels of increased housing supply proposed for the Growth Areas as its baseline. The Entec report is accessible on both the Defra and ODPM websites.
	In addition, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, under contract to Defra, has assessed the possible impact of the new housing on carbon dioxide emissions from soil, which could be around 0.02 per cent. of projected UK emission in 2010.
	Regional Planning Bodies are also required under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to have regard to national policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State when preparing draft Regional Spatial Strategies. They must also carry out a sustainability appraisal of these drafts. This means that, in proposing housing in their Strategies, account will be taken of its impact on climate change. Homes built to new standards will also less emissions then existing stock.

Circus Animals

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2006 to Question 54633, on animals in circuses, if she will place in the Library the considerations her Department has made of the various research projects.

Ben Bradshaw: It would not be appropriate to place these considerations in the Library of the House. But the steps we are taking under the Animal Welfare Bill will improve significantly the welfare of animals in circuses.

Circus Animals

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response she has made to the submission from Animal Defenders International in the consultation on the welfare of animals in travelling circuses.

Ben Bradshaw: We considered this submission carefully. On 8 March 2006, Official Report, column 60WS, I made a Parliamentary Statement concerning the use of certain non-domesticated animals in travelling circuses.

Coastal Erosion (Lincolnshire)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the rate of coastal erosion in (a) Boston and Skegness and (b) Lincolnshire.

Elliot Morley: Defra has overall policy responsibility for coastal erosion risk in England and grant aids individual local authority improvement projects to reduce this risk but does not build defences, nor direct the authorities on which specific projects to undertake.
	Erosion risk will vary around the coastline depending on local conditions and defences in place. Defra has encouraged the relevant authorities to produce Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) which provide large-scale assessments of the risks associated with coastal processes and present long term policy frameworks to manage these risks in a sustainable manner. In 2001 Defra funded a national study of information on long term coastal processes and evolution over the next century (Futurecoast). This is designed to be used by coastal authorities to inform their current revisions of SMPs. The Office of Science and Technology's Foresight Future Flooding report, published in 2004, also considered possible rates of coastal erosion under different scenarios over the next 80 years.
	Management of coastal erosion risk and associated monitoring in specific locations is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in each area. Defra has not carried out an assessment specifically in the areas specified.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Minister of State will reply to the letter of 30 January 2006, from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire.

Elliot Morley: I apologise for the delay. A reply will be sent shortly.

Departmental Wildlife Unit

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who is the director of her Department's wildlife unit; what relevant specialist qualifications he or she holds; and what are the details of his or her career to date.

Ben Bradshaw: This information cannot be provided for security reasons.

Draft Marine Bill

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish the Draft Marine Bill; and if she will make a statement on its scope.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 7 March 2006
	Defra will be publishing a consultation document shortly that will outline the Government's thinking in a number of key areas that will be addressed by the Marine Bill. These areas cover marine spatial planning, nature conservation, licensing reform, and the possibility of setting up a new marine organisation. We have already undertaken initial consultation on some fisheries issues that will also be dealt with in the Bill.
	The final scope of the Marine Bill will not be decided until we have fully considered the responses to the consultation exercise. The consultation document will identify the areas that we are considering, but it also asks for views on the strategic direction that we should take. It would be inappropriate to make a statement on the scope of the Bill before we have completed this process.
	The Government have indicated that a draft Bill will be published later in this Parliamentary session. We will need to take the consultation responses into account before taking a final decision, but it may be appropriate to publish further detailed proposals for consultation once we determine the scope of the Marine Bill.

Fair Trade

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what activities her Department is (a) sponsoring and (b) supporting for fair trade fortnight.

Ben Bradshaw: The event has been advertised on the public sector food procurement initiative (PSFPI) website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk.farm/sustain/procurement/trade.htm, as the fortnight is designed to help spread the work about fair trade and the benefits it brings to farmers and workers in developing countries. In DEFRA we have worked with our catering contractors to introduce fairly traded tea and coffee into the hospitality services they provide and are promoting fair trade products for purchase by staff. Events organised by the catering services providers will be taking place over the fortnight in support of fairly traded products, and DEFRA is supporting these events. Under the public procurement rules DEFRA and its catering services providers can and does seek to increase awareness of the range of products available from fairly traded sources, but are not permitted to promote the products of a single organisation to the exclusion of other fair trade sources.

Fallen Stock

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will permit farmers who do not wish to use the National Fallen Stock Scheme to choose their own contractors if they have fallen stock.

Ben Bradshaw: Yes. The National Fallen Stock Scheme is voluntary. It is designed to assist farmers and horse owners with the requirement to comply with the Animal-By-Products Regulation, by providing a reliable, low cost means of disposal.

Flood Defences (Lincolnshire)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money has been allocated to Lincolnshire County Council for flood defences in each of the last five years; and how much is proposed to be granted in each of the next three years.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is the principal operating authority with responsibility for flood risk management in England. Defra funds most of the Agency's flood related work and grant aids individual capital improvement projects and related studies undertaken by local authorities and internal drainage boards.
	It is unusual for county councils to carry out works for flood risk management since such works are usually done by district or unitary councils in those few areas where this is not the responsibility of the Environment Agency or internal drainage boards. Defra has provided no funding support to Lincolnshire County Council for capital flood risk management works or studies in these years.
	Non-capital flood risk management expenditure by local authorities is supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister via Formula Grant. Since Lincolnshire County Council incurs expenditure on flood risk management, the calculation of their Formula Grant takes this into account. It is not, however, possible to say how much Formula Grant they have received for this purpose since it is an unhypothecated block grant, that is councils can use the money to support any service.

Flood Risk Insurance

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations Ministers and officials in her Department have received in the last 12 months from the Association of British Insurers on insurance for houses in areas at risk of flooding.

Elliot Morley: There have been extensive discussions with the Association over the past few years at both Ministerial and official level with regard to insurance and flood risk. At a meeting in November I agreed with them a Statement of Principles which sets out the commitments made by the insurance industry to maintain flood insurance cover for the majority of domestic and small business properties at risk in association with commitments made by the Government on flood risk management.

Flood Risk Insurance

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the (a) access to and (b) cost of home insurance for people living in areas designated as at risk of flooding by the Environment Agency map in (i) Boston and Skegness and (ii) Lincolnshire;
	(2)  how many homes have been unable to obtain insurance against flood damage in (a) Boston and Skegness, (b) Lincolnshire and (c) England.

Elliot Morley: The Government continues to work with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) with a mutual aim of continuing affordable domestic flood cover into the future.
	The insurance industry is a competitive and commercial one and makes decisions based on risk. The Department has not done any specific assessment in Boston, Skegness or Lincolnshire but indications from the ABI suggest that flood insurance cover remains broadly available to households in areas at risk of flooding nationally in accordance with their Statement of Principles on this. The cost of premiums is a matter for individual insurers.

Fly-tipping

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) incidents of fly-tipping were reported and (b) prosecutions were made for the offence in (i) Lancashire and (ii) West Lancashire constituency in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has worked with the Environment Agency to establish a national database on fly-tipping (Flycapture) which has been operational since April 2004. No national data were previously available on illegal waste disposal or fly-tipping. Flycapture collects data at local authority level only.
	It is important to note that the data are probably an underestimate and will increase as authorities get better at collecting and reporting the data.
	West Lancashire district council reported 1,515 incidents of Fly-tipping between April 2004 and March 2005 (average of 152 per month) and 1,260 between April 2005 and January 2006 (average 126 per month) during the same time periods all Lancashire authorities reported 32,724 (average of 2,879 per month) and 36,073 (average of 3,674 per month) respectively.
	Prosecution data are only available from April 2005 to January 2006. During this period West Lancashire district council reported 32 prosecutions and all Lancashire authorities a total of 72.
	
		
			  Number of incidents Average per month Number of incidents Average per month Prosecutions taken 
		
		
			 Blackburn with Darwen borough council 5,522 460.17 5,436 543.60 36 
			 Blackpool borough council 4,712 392.67 7,554 755.40 0 
			 Burnley borough council 909 151.50 2,717 301.89 0 
			 Chorley borough council 666 60.55 793 99.13 0 
			 Fylde borough council 325 29.55 42 21.00 0 
			 Hyndburn borough council 1,900 158.33 2,088 208.80 0 
			 Lancaster city council 3,240 270.00 4,609 460.90 0 
			 Pendle borough council 4,828 438.91 2,466 246.60 2 
			 Preston borough council 3,154 262.83 5,626 562.60 1 
			 Ribble Valley borough council 506 46.00 445 44.50 0 
			 Rossendale borough council 358 32.55 390 39.00 0 
			 South Ribble borough council 1,110 92.50 998 99.80 1 
			 West Lancashire district council 1,515 151.50 1,260 126.00 32 
			 Wyre borough council 3,979 331.58 1,649 164.90 0 
			 Total 32,724 2,878.63 36,073 3,674.11 72

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether additional payment has been made to valuers in relation to the foot and mouth outbreak in Cumbria since 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: Disputes arose with some valuers in Cumbria over the rates paid to them, or claimed by them, for valuation work undertaken by them during the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001. The circumstances and facts pertaining to these disputes vary from dispute to dispute. These disputes have been settled though commercially confidential negotiated settlements, and formal debt recovery by Defra. A number of ongoing cases are the subject still of formal debt recovery by the Department.
	The right hon. Member wrote to the Secretary of State last year on behalf of one valuer in his constituency who is concerned that other valuers in Cumbria may have been remunerated more favourably, but the Department has yet to receive the information requested from the right hon. Member, the valuer, and the valuer's solicitors necessary to support the contention of the valuer that he has been disadvantaged financially, but for which no evidence has yet been presented.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether valuers have been paid at a rate in excess of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers formula in relation to the foot and mouth outbreak in Cumbria.

Ben Bradshaw: The right hon. Member is aware that disputes have arisen with some valuers in Cumbria over the rates paid to them, or claimed by them, for valuation work undertaken by them during the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001. The circumstances and facts pertaining to these disputes vary from dispute to dispute. These disputes have been settled through commercially confidential negotiated settlements, and formal debt recovery by Defra. A number of ongoing cases are the subject still of formal debt recovery by the Department.

GM Terminator Seeds

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what position the Government will take at (a) the EU and (b) the forthcoming UN Convention on Biodiversity on genetically modified terminator seeds.

Elliot Morley: In 2000 parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) decided that there should be a precautionary approach to the field testing and commercial use of these technologies while further research was carried out, particularly into their possible socio-economic impacts. The EU and the UK supported this decision in 2000 and continue to do so. We will be seeking reaffirmation of this decision at the forthcoming CBD meeting.

Goats

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 1 November 2005, Official Report, column 884W, on goats, what evidence she has that the application of tattoos to sheep and goats can cause welfare problems.

Ben Bradshaw: None. The EU rules no longer provide for tattoos as the primary means of identification for sheep and goats. There is nothing to stop keepers continuing to use tattoos as a management tool, but they cannot replace the official identification.

Groundwater Protection

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to revise the Environment Agency's publication Policy and Practice for the Protection of Groundwater; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is responsible for the preparation and publication of policies for its own internal guidance.
	I understand that the Agency is proposing to replace its existing Policy and Practice for the Protection of Groundwater, last revised in 1998, with a new Groundwater Protection Policy, and that the initial document will be published for consultation in April 2006 with further material later this year.

Hatching Eggs

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what controls (a) she and (b) the European Union have placed on (i) the import and (ii) the export of hatching eggs.

Ben Bradshaw: EU Directive 90/539/EEC sets down rules on the import and export of hatching eggs within the European Union. The import of hatching eggs from third countries is covered by Directive 96/482/EEC.
	Rules concerning the export of hatching eggs to third countries are dictated by the country of destination.

Home Owners (Environmental Incentives)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives the Government have offered to homeowners to make environmentally friendly improvements to their homes.

Elliot Morley: The Government is committed to the promotion of environmentally friendly measures in homes as an integral part of its policies to tackle climate change and other environmental impacts. Key incentives include;
	The Warm Front Scheme provides a package of heating and insulation measures to vulnerable households in receipt of certain benefits. The Scheme's central aim is to tackle fuel poverty, and the Scheme has assisted more than one million households since its launch in June 2000. A further 300 million of funding was announced in the 2005 pre-Budget report taking the total fund to tackle fuel poverty in England to 800 million for the period 200508;
	Since 2002 the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) has required energy suppliers to meet targets for the promotion of improvements in household energy efficiency. The current 3 year phase of EEC is expected to stimulate around 1 billion of investment which will deliver net savings to customers in excess of 4 billion over the lifetime of the measures;
	Reduced VAT rates were introduced on a number of residential insulation and heating products, heating controls, and grant-funded installations of most heating systems. These were extended in Budget 2005 to include micro-CHP and air source heat pumps;
	The Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme (2002) and Clear Skies Programme (2003)for the installation of renewable technologies. The Government will continue its support for Photovoltaics and other micro-renewables through a new Low Carbon Buildings Programme, which is due to start in April 2006;
	Under the Water Industry Act 1991, Water Companies have a duty to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. Many water companies publish advice on how to save water, offer subsidised water butts and distribute free cistern displacement devices.

Illegal Meat Imports

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to prevent illegal meat imports.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 200304, an additional 25 million has been allocated by Government to tackle illegal imports of products of animal origin and plants and plant based goods.
	HM Revenue and Customs has enforcement responsibility at the frontier to reduce illegal imports of products of animal origin from countries outside the European Union. Defra assists them in deploying their resources according to risk, by providing information on the animal health disease situation around the world, including the risks from new disease outbreaks. Defra and HMRC also undertake joint publicity campaigns within GB, at the border, and overseas to raise public awareness.
	HMRC has doubled the number of staff who check passengers, freight and post from H5N1 affected countries. Defra and HMRC are also launching publicity campaigns on avian influenza on top of existing campaigns on illegal imports.

Lisbon Agenda

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what policies her Department has adopted to assist the United Kingdom's fulfilment of the Lisbon agenda criteria.

Elliot Morley: The Government strongly supports the renewed Lisbon focus on jobs and growth as the best way to meet the challenges of globalisation and boost prosperity and living standards for all. The UK national reform programme details our policy response to these challenges. My Department has particular responsibilities for encouraging the sustainable use of resources and for strengthening the synergies between environmental protection and growth. Our role in promoting environmentally friendly technologies is also a component of achieving growth that is orientated towards employment and the efficient allocation of resources.
	We expect the spring council in March to emphasise the importance of implementation of national commitments to reform.
	My Department is also responsible for co-ordinating the Government's input into the European Council's undertaking to revise the EU's Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS) by June 2006. A major aim of our approach to the revision will be to emphasise and clarify the coherence and synergies between the EU SDS and the Lisbon agenda as agents for sustainable change.

Livestock Movements (Testing)

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely annual cost of Government funding of pre-movement testing of cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: Pre-movement testing will be introduced in England on 27 March, subject to the findings of a rapid independent survey of veterinary capacity and preparedness to deliver the new policy. All pre-movement tests must be arranged and paid for by the herd owner. Government will continue to fund routine TB surveillance tests, at a cost of approximately 40 million per year. These will qualify as pre-movement tests if the animals are moved within 60 days of testing.

Pesticides

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 11W, on pesticides, what the outcome was of her request to officials and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) to examine whether more information on the ACP's proceedings could be made available.

Elliot Morley: The review announced in my previous reply is ongoing. I will report the outcome to the House as soon as it is concluded.

Pesticides

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answers of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2670W, on pesticides, if she would consider changing Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) practice to provide for (a) full disclosure of the interests of members of the Medical and Toxicology Panel and (b) prompt publication of a detailed record of discussions held at ACP meetings.

Elliot Morley: I have no plans to change the current arrangements for the publication of the interests of the Medical and Toxicology panel. The interests of all Members of the ACP, including those on the Medical and Toxicology panel, and the affiliations of the non ACP members of the Medical and Toxicology panel are currently published in the ACP annual report.
	I also refer my right hon. Friend to my answer to UIN 56785 in relation to prompt publication of the ACP minutes.

Pesticides

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 11W, on pesticides, if she will require the Advisory Committee on Pesticides to publish on its website (a) a list of members' interests and for such a list to be updated within a fortnight of any change and (b) its minutes and relevant papers in full within one week of each meeting.

Elliot Morley: I have no plans to change the current arrangements for the publication of the ACP Members' interests described in my earlier response.
	The summary minutes of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides are currently published in draft three weeks after the date of each meeting and most Committee papers are available on request from the ACP Secretariat. This timescale is necessary to provide for adequate consultation with the Committee's members in order to ensure that the record reflects accurately the discussion that takes place.

Pesticides

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2005, Official Report, column 2015W, on pesticides, what meetings with (a) pesticide companies and (b) trade associations the Government (i) has had and (ii) plans to have, since the meeting with the Crop Protection Association on 11th January 2006.

Elliot Morley: My noble Friend Lord Bach is the Minister with responsibility for pesticides. Lord Bach met with BASIS (Registration) Ltd on 13 February. BASIS is an independent organisation set up at the suggestion of the government to establish and assess standards in the pesticide industry relating to storage and sale. Lord Bach also addressed a conference organised by the Amenity Forum, which includes representatives from trade associations linked to the pesticides industry, on 1 March. No other meetings with pesticide companies or trade associations are planned at this time.

Pesticides/Chemicals

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons (a) chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and (b) multiple chemical sensitivity are not included in the Advisory Committee on Pesticides' risk assessment process when setting exposure limits for pesticides and other environmental chemicals.

Elliot Morley: The Advisory Committee on Pesticides has considered the possibility that exposure to pesticides could cause complex multi-system disorders in a minority of individuals who are unusually susceptible and accepts that this cannot be completely ruled out. However, the Committee considers it unlikely that pesticide toxicity contributes significantly to conditions such as these because there are currently no known toxic mechanisms that would explain the patterns of symptoms reported by people with these disorders, nor is there any information about the limits on exposure that would be needed to prevent such illness occurring. Other regulatory and standard-setting bodies in the UK and internationally similarly do not include possible risks of these illnesses when setting exposure limits for pesticides or other environmental chemicals.
	The Committee does believe that these types of disorders warrant further research but it does not believe that the appropriate new animal models suitable for use as regulatory tools can be developed in the near future. This is because the lack of evidence for any mechanism of action inhibits sound research in this area.

Pesticides/Chemicals

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will extend the range of health issues dealt with by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

Elliot Morley: Ministers place no constraints on the range of health issues dealt with by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides; this is for the Committee to decide. The Committee looks at a wide range of health issues and continuously reviews emerging health and scientific developments related to pesticides. When the Committee feels the need for additional expertise in any area there is scope for it to seek the advice of other scientific committees with relevant expertise.

Pesticides/Chemicals

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will require the Advisory Committee on Pesticides to publish full statements of their deliberations.

Elliot Morley: A summary report of all Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) discussions is published. The Department has previously considered the feasibility of publishing the detailed record of the ACP's discussions but this was not taken forward due to the fact that certain commercially confidential information is included. We have recently asked officials to look again at this issue in consultation with the ACP to see whether more information could be made available.

Pesticides/Chemicals

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed in the Pesticides Safety Directorate in each of the last 12 months; and how many vacancies there were in each month.

Elliot Morley: The information is provided in the following table.
	The vacancies recorded are the difference between the budgeted directorate's compliment and the actual number of staff in post. They will not necessarily reflect the level of recruitment conducted in any month
	
		
			  Staff in post Allocation Vacancies 
		
		
			 April 196 201 5 
			 May 193 201 8 
			 June 194 201 7 
			 July 193 201 8 
			 August 195 201 6 
			 September 199 201 2 
			 October 199 201 2 
			 November 194 201 7 
			 December 195 201 6 
			 January 201 201 0 
			 February 200 201 1 
			 March 199 201 2

Poultry Imports

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions apply to the import from France of poultry (a) fed on poultry protein and (b) administered drugs banned in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 March 2006
	The rules governing poultry feed and the drugs that may be administered to poultry are set out in EU legislation. There is currently a ban on feeding poultry protein to poultry throughout the EU. The competent authority in each member state is responsible for making sure that poultry sent to another member state complies with the rules. The European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office carries out regular inspections to ensure that Community law is implemented properly. Importing member states can also carry out random, non discriminatory checks at the place of destination, and during transport if they suspect that the rules have been breached.

Recycling

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the rates for recycling were in each local authority in each of the past nine years, broken down by (a) metropolitan borough and (b) other authorities.

Ben Bradshaw: Results for individual local authority household recycling rates from 199899 to 200304 are published on the Defra website at: http://defraweb/environment/statistics/wastats/mwb0304/index.htm, Annex B. The 200405 Best Value Performance Indicator results for BV82a, percentage of household waste sent for recycling and BV82b, percentage of household waste sent for composting are available from the Audit Commission website at: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/performance/dataprovision.asp. 200405 provisional results from WasteDataFlow will be available after 24 March 2006.
	Due to unreliability of early data, individual authority recycling rates are not published prior to 199899.

Reservoirs (Oxfordshire)

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with water companies on reservoir capacity in Oxfordshire.

Elliot Morley: Oxfordshire falls almost entirely within the supply area of Thames Water, with small areas supplied by Severn Trent Water and Anglian Water.
	Oxfordshire's main strategic reservoir is Farmoor, which is currently around 97 per cent. full.
	Thames Water has met Defra officials on several occasions to discuss the company's proposals for a new reservoir in south west Oxfordshire. These discussions have centred on the permissions necessary for such a reservoir.

Sea Defences (Lincolnshire)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on sea defences in (a) Boston and Skegness and (b) Lincolnshire in each of the last five years; and how much is proposed to be spent in each of the next three years.

Elliot Morley: Defra funds most of the Environment Agency's flood related work and grant aids individual capital improvement projects and related studies undertaken by local authorities and internal drainage boards. The Agency has spent the following sums on sea defences on the two stretches of coastline from Boston to Skegness and from Skegness to North Lincolnshire:
	
		 million
		
			  Boston to Skegness Skegness to North Lincolnshire 
		
		
			 200102 0.8 3.5 
			 200203 0.8 4.4 
			 200304 0.7 3.3 
			 200405 0.8 3.3 
			 200506 2.7 11.0 
			 200607 2.0 9.7 
			 200708 2.2 12.5 
			 200809 2.3 12.8 
		
	
	In years prior to 200405, the investment was funded through a combination of direct grant from Defra and levies on local authorities which were in turn supported by Revenue Support Grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. From 200405 onwards, the spend figures are entirely funded through Grant in Aid from Defra. Years from 200506 onwards are either partly or wholly estimates of future spend.

Synthetic Pyrethroids

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons her Department has taken the decision to authorise the removal of synthetic pyrethroids from the market; and what discussions she has held with the Environment Agency on their removal.

Ben Bradshaw: The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for the authorisation of veterinary medicinal products in the UK. The assessment process considers the safety, quality and efficacy of products before they are placed on the market. The VMD also runs a Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (SARSS) to monitor the use of products once authorised. The potential for cypermethrin to cause environmental damage is well known and the product literature contains information for users to manage the environmental risk.
	In July 2005 the Environment Agency presented a report to the VMD about pollution incidents in Wales from the use of sheep dip. Between January 2004 and August 2005 the Environment Agency had investigated 32 sheep dip incidents causing major or significant ecosystem damage. The 12 most serious cases involved cypermethrin dips. The majority of incidents were in Wales and most arose from apparent routine use rather than disposal of used dip. All of the cases involved the loss of aquatic life with one involving the loss of a great many cray fish; a protected species. Nine of the cases have led to prosecution.
	The cypermethrin sheep dips are currently subject to a routine renewal assessment. In October 2005 the marketing authorisation holders (MAH) for the cypermethrin sheep dip products were asked to provide data to support a recommendation for the length of time sheep should be retained in pens close to the bath to allow the fleece to drain of excess dip. The MAH were also asked to provide an assessment of the risk presented by sheep entering watercourses after they had returned to pasture. The Environment Agency and the VMD have also jointly funded a research project to consider the risk presented by sheep entering watercourses after they have been dipped. None of this information is expected to be available before the next dipping season.
	Cypermethrin sheep dips are used for the treatment and prevention of sheep scab, ticks and blowfly. Sheep scab is a serious animal welfare issue that can lead to death from anaphylactic shock. Other authorised veterinary medicinal products are available for use against these ectoparasites. These include organophosphorous (OP) sheep dips. Concerns have been expressed about the human health implications for farmers using OP dips. These have been addressed by changes to the products over the years and they are now available only in closed transfer systems to prevent farmers coming into contact with the concentrate.
	The Environment Agency and VMD have consulted on a joint pollution reduction programme for the use of cypermethrin sheep dips. This programme remains a key element in the future environmentally sustainable use of SP dips.
	In the light of the evidence available on the environmental pollution from routine use of cypermethrin sheep dips and the alternative products available for sheep ectoparasite control, it was decided to suspend the marketing authorisations for cypermethrin sheep dips on a precautionary basis until more information was available on how the products can be used without providing an unacceptable risk to the environment.
	The VMD and the Environment Agency have been working closely together on this topic and the VMD consulted the Environment Agency on its proposal to suspend the authorisations.

UK Zoonoses Group

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will list the members of the UK Zoonoses Group; what its terms of reference are; how many staff it employs; whether it produces an annual report to her Department; what publications it produces; for what reasons it was established; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the work of the UK Zoonoses Group.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK Zoonoses Group provides a forum for the discussion of animal and human health aspects of zoonoses, and met for the first time in October 2001.
	The formation of the UK Zoonoses Group is in line with the recommendation in the Phillips Report on BSE (published in October 2000) for better liaison between central government, devolved administrations, and local enforcement and health organisations on animal and human health issues that have implications for the whole of the UK.
	The Group's terms of reference are to:
	provide an overview and means of ensuring co-ordination of public health action at UK, national and local levels with regard to existing and emerging zoonotic infections and antimicrobial resistance to those infections in animals and humans
	advise the respective Secretaries of State or Ministers of Agriculture, Health and Environment in the UK on important events in the field of zoonoses, including where necessary preventative and curative action
	promote and facilitate activity leading to better understanding of zoonoses and the risks to public health
	ensure an exchange of views within and between central Government departments and agencies, devolved administrations and local Government on developments in the field of zoonoses, and to provide contact points for discussion.
	Membership comprises UK Chief Medical Officers and UK Chief Veterinary Officers plus representatives from Defra, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland), Department of Health, Food Standards Agency, Meat Hygiene Service, Welsh Assembly Government, Health Protection Agency, Scottish Agricultural College, Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Environmental Agency, Health Protection Scotland (previously the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health), Health and Safety Executive and Local Authorities Coordinating Office on Regulatory Services.
	The Group does not employ staff but has a joint secretariat comprised of members from the Department of Health and Defra. The Group does not produce an annual report. Instead the information about the Group, and access to minutes of meetings and papers, are available on the Defra website at:http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/zoonoses/ukzg/index.htm. The Group normally meets twice a year and since its formation in October 2001 has met nine times.
	More generally in relation to zoonoses in the UK, Ministers agreed in 1999 to the production of an annual Zoonoses Report. Annual reports on zoonoses in the UK are available for the years 1998 to 2004 on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/zoonoses/reports.htm. The report on zoonoses in the UK for 2005 is expected to be published in November 2006.

UK Zoonoses Group

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the operation of (a) the Zoonoses Directive 2003/99 and (b) the Zoonoses Regulations 2160/2003.

Ben Bradshaw: The Directive and the Regulation replace and expand on existing measures for protection against zoonoses and zoonotic agents in animals, animal feed and products of animal origin.
	The Zoonoses Directive (2003/99) places a requirement on member states to ensure that data on the occurrence of zoonoses and zoonotic agents and anti-microbial resistance are collected, analysed and published. A working group of representatives from Defra, Department of Health, their supporting agencies, and their equivalents in the devolved administrations collaborates in collecting the information and submitting the UK annual report to the European Commission. This addresses the trends and sources of zoonotic agents in animals, feed and food, and the analysis of the significance to public health. The UK report is available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/zoonoses/trends~sources.htm
	The Zoonoses Regulation 2160/2003 requires that government and primary producers follow the framework it sets for the reduction of zoonotic agents in animals on farms. Implementation of the Regulation has commenced with programmes to reduce salmonella of public health significance after the completion of surveys to establish the base-line values of Salmonella in member states.
	The first control programme covers breeding flocks of domestic fowl and will be implemented by 1 January 2007. It builds on the statutory salmonella control programme that has been in operation in this sector since 1989.
	Control plans for Salmonella of human health significance in other sectors are required and are expected to be implemented for laying flocks (January 2008), broilers (2009) turkeys and fattening pigs (2010); and finally breeding pigs (2011).
	Our intention is for industry bodies and government to work in partnership on the production of the control plans and this approach was supported by the partners at an initial meeting in July 2005. The poultry and pig industries are made up of different sectors and Defra has set up five working groups to assist in the development of control plans. Representatives from the different sectors, the Food Standards Agency, and the regions are also involved.
	Defra will consult fully on implementing domestic legislation.

United Utilities Water Company

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the leakage rate was for the United Utilities Water Company in the latest period for which figures are available; and what change there has been in United Utilities' water leakage rate in the last five years.

Elliot Morley: The director general of water services publishes leakage figures annually in the 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' reports. Total reported leakage at United Utilities for 200405 was 500 megalitres per day. This is an increase of 37 megalitres per day from 200001.

Waste Management

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with stakeholders in the Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough growth corridor on future waste management facility provision and policy.

Ben Bradshaw: I have had no discussions with stakeholders on this issue. National policy set out in Planning Policy Statement 10 Planning for Sustainable Waste Management requires regional planning bodies to prepare regional spatial strategies which aim to provide sufficient opportunities to meet the identified needs of their areas for waste management for all waste streams. In turn, planning authorities are expected to prepare local development documents that reflect their contribution to delivering the regional spatial strategy.
	An Examination in Public (EIP) was recently held for the East of England RSS. Waste was one of the issues considered by the EIP.

Water Leakage (London)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action has been taken to reduce leakage rates from water pipes in the London area.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 March 2006
	The Director General of Water Services is responsible for setting targets and monitoring reductions in water company leakage. In 2001, following failure to meet their leakage targets, Ofwat suspended Thames Water's leakage targets in favour of an action plan to improve its leakage monitoring and control activities. This was in addition to a continuing requirement for Thames Water to provide quarterly reports on progress with its agreed leakage reduction plan. The aim is to restore leakage to its target level and achieve adequate security of supplies.
	The company is now carrying out 60 per cent. more repairs than two years ago, and a major upgrade of its water distribution network in London is under way. This will involve replacing more than 1,200 km of water mains over the five years up to 2010. In 200405 Thames Water reduced its overall leakage for the first time since 19992000, moving towards the target of reducing leakage to its economic level of 725 Ml/d by 200910.

Water Supply

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likelihood of standpipes being required in (a) Kent and (b) Sussex in the course of 2006.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 March 2006
	The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to manage water resources in England and Wales. It has produced a report, Drought prospects 2006, explaining the likely consequences of a continuing rainfall deficit. This report indicates that if rainfall in Kent and Sussex, from February to April, is only 60 per cent. of the average for that period, there would be a risk later in the year of extreme steps to manage public water supplies such as the introduction of standpipes and rota cuts. This risk will be influenced by the efficacy of measures adopted to conserve water supplies.

Water Supply

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to increase water supplies in (a) South East England and (b) Kent; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 March 2006
	All water companies in England and Wales have statutory duties to maintain adequate supplies of water. It is for water companies to plan the investment required to achieve a supply-demand balance, including that for any necessary increase in supplies. Details of how each water company, including those in South East England and Kent, propose to reconcile supply with anticipated future demand are included in their 25 year water resource plans. These water resource plans are produced voluntarily every five years at present but will become a statutory requirement under the provisions of the Water Act 2003. My Department is currently consulting on the exercise of the new powers in respect of statutory water resource plans.
	Water companies in South East England and Kent, in common with the other water companies, also produced drought plans which are now a statutory requirement. The drought plan sets out how the company will continue to meet its duty to maintain an adequate supply of water during a short term water shortage. One of the actions may involve applying to my Department for drought orders to restrict non-essential uses of water.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Carbon Footprint

Edward Vaizey: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what assessment has been made of the carbon footprint of the Palace of Westminster.

Nick Harvey: The quantity of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere as a result of gas and electricity consumption on the Commons part of the parliamentary estate, including the Commons part of the Palace of Westminster, in 200405 was 11,694 tonnes CO 2 . I understand that the equivalent total for the Palace of Westminster as a whole, but excluding the other buildings on the estate, was 8,892 tonnes CO 2 .

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Age Discrimination

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in eliminating age discrimination in employment.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations were laid before Parliament in draft on 9 March and, subject to parliamentary approval, will come into force on 1 October 2006. The regulations represent a big step forward in eliminating age discrimination in employment. In the meantime, the Government's Age Positive and Be Ready campaigns have been encouraging the benefits of an age diverse work force in readiness for the new legislation.

Arms Exports (Iraq)

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Ministers have had responsibility for the approval of arms export licences to Iraq since the beginning of 2004.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 13 March 2006
	The DTI is the licensing authority for goods whose export is controlled for strategic reasons. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for issuing all export licences, including those for Iraq. The DTI Export Control Organisation carries out this function on his behalf.

Farnborough Air Show

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Ministers will be attending the Farnborough Air Show in July.

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry plans to attend the Farnborough Air Show. Possible attendance by other DTI Ministers is under consideration. Attendance of Ministers from other Departments is a matter for those Departments.

Nuclear Waste

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2006, Official Report, column 2178W on nuclear waste, to the hon. Member for Cardiff Central, from which countries the spent nuclear fuel stored in Scotland comes; where the spent nuclear fuel has been stored since arriving in the UK; how long he expects the spent nuclear waste to be stored at the current site; what assessment he has made of the risks of pollution from the storage of the waste; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The overseas spent fuel stored in Scotland (less than one tonne), originates from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland and Georgia. Spent fuel has been stored at the UKAEA site at Dounreay.
	Other than material removed to the UK for international security reasons, material is stored for a period as agreed under contract with the customer. Since 1976, all contracts for reprocessing of overseas spent fuel in the UK contain a clause stating that the materials, including waste, resulting from the reprocessing will be returned to the country of origin.
	Spent fuel stored in accordance with regulatory requirements as determined by the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate; and associated radioactive discharges are regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Regional Development Agencies

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) names and (b) salaries are of the chief executives of regional development agencies.

Alun Michael: holding answer 13 March 2006
	The name and salary details of the chief executive for each regional development agency are shown in its annual report. Copies of regional development agency annual reports are placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the internet.
	The website addresses for the agencies are as follows. The websites will also provide the names of any newly appointed chief executives.
	
		
			 Regional development agency Website 
		
		
			 Advantage West Midlands www.advantagewm.co.uk 
			 East of England Development Agency www.eeda.org.uk 
			 East Midlands Development Agency www.emda.org.uk 
			 London Development Agency www.lda.gov.uk 
			 NorthWest Development Agency www.nwda.co.uk 
			 One NorthEast www.oneno.rtheast.co.uk 
			 South of England Development Agency www.seeda.co.uk 
			 South West of England Development Agency www.southwestrda.org.uk 
			 Yorkshire Forward www.yorkshire-forward.com

Regional Development Agencies

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost of employing each director of the South West Regional Development Agency has been in each of the last five years.

Alun Michael: Information concerning employment costs is shown in annual reports of the South West of England Regional Development Agency. Copies of the annual reports are placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the internet.
	The website address for the agency is www.southwestrda.org.uk

Waste Directive

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the names of the staff in his Department working on the review of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive which he announced in December; how many staff hours a week are being spent on the review; which stakeholders have been consulted; whether records are available of meetings that have been carried out in relation to the review; what the terms of reference are of the review; whether a date has been set for the consultation period; and whether it is policy that staff working on the WEEE review take email inquiries only.

Malcolm Wicks: As I announced on 14 December 2005, the Review on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive will seek to establish the best way to implement the directive taking into account the concerns of businesses and stakeholders, and will be followed by a full consultation exercise in the spring. A number of officials, totalling around 280 staff hours a week, are currently working on various aspects of the review, and a wide range of stakeholders have been consulted to ensure that as many views as possible are taken into account. Records of meetings have not been prepared for publication. To ensure that proper consideration can be given to all the issues raised by the large number of stakeholders, we prefer them to inform the Department of their concerns in writing.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the itinerary was for her recent visit to Bexley borough.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 9 March 2006
	On the evening of Tuesday 7 February, I visited Bexley borough to take part in a community meeting.

Digital Television

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Government have allocated for support for individuals on low incomes to purchase equipment in preparation for the switch to digital television in each year leading up to the switchover; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: We recognise that many vulnerable consumers will need help in adapting to the change, but evidence, including research carried out by Scientific Generics has shown that the main issue is about practical help for specific groups rather than affordability. The Government therefore decided specific assistance will be available to households where someone is aged 75 or over; and households with people with severe disabilities. This will consist of providing the necessary equipment to convert one TV set and the relevant support to install and use such equipment.
	Help will be available free of charge to those eligible for the scheme who are also receiving pensions credit, income support or job seeker's allowance. Others will have access to the same help but will pay a modest charge.
	We are working closely with the BBC, DWP and with leading charitable and voluntary groups on detailed scheme design.
	We are conducting a trial in the Bolton area in association with the BBC. The conclusions of the trial and other research will help us to refine the cost of providing assistance.

Digital Television

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that all licence fee payers will be able to take advantage of digital switchover regardless of (a) technical expertise, (b) income level, (c) age and (d) geographical features of their local area; and what estimate she has made of when digital switchover will be implemented in the area in which Vale of Clwyd constituency is located.

James Purnell: holding answer 10 March 2006
	Digital Switchover will enable digital terrestrial coverage to match current analogue levels. Switchover for the Wales region will happen in the second half of 2009.
	Digital UK will provide extensive information to ensure everyone knows what is happening, what they need to do, and when. Their activities will include major communication campaigns, direct mail and a call centre giving practical advice on how to prepare for switchover.
	In addition, specific assistance will be available to households where someone is aged 75 or over; and households with people with severe disabilities. This will consist of providing the necessary equipment to convert one TV set and the relevant support to install and use such equipment.
	Help will be available free of charge to those eligible for the scheme who are also receiving pensions credit, income support or job seeker's allowance. Others will have access to the same help but will pay a modest charge.

Gaming Machines

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the implementation of the new licensing regime for gaming machines in pubs and other alcohol licensed premises from 24 November 2005.

Richard Caborn: On 24 November 2005, responsibility for issuing permits under Section 34 of the Gaming Act 1968 (authorising gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises) transferred from licensing justices to licensing authorities. Aside from this transfer of functions, the substance of the permit regime remained the same.
	DCMS issued guidance to licensing authorities on their new responsibilities on 10 October 2005, and has been working closely since then with Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) to respond to any additional inquiries emerging from licensing authorities.
	While no formal evaluation has been made, no widespread issues arising from the transfer of functions have been identified.

Gaming Machines

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the local authorities who (a) have introduced and (b) are yet to introduce policies for the granting of permits for pubs and other licensed premises to have gaming machines following the introduction of the new licensing regime on 24 November 2005.

Richard Caborn: There is no requirement for local authorities to develop policies in relation to their new responsibility for issuing permits under Section 34 of the Gaming Act 1968 authorising gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises. Local authorities are required to grant or refuse applications on a case by case basis.
	Local authorities can resolve not to grant or renew Section 34 permits for classes of premises in their area, or to limit the number of machines in particular classes of premises. However, this power does not apply to alcohol licensed premises or amusement arcades.

Gaming Machines

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of local authorities have issued new permits for gaming machines in pubs and other licensed premises since 24 November 2005.

Richard Caborn: This information is not collected centrally.

Ministerial Activities

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) public speeches and (b) official visits she has made since 5 May 2005; and how many letters she sent in this period.

Tessa Jowell: Since the 5 May 2005 I have made 31 public speeches and (26) official visits. All speeches and visits were conducted in accordance with the ministerial code.
	The number of letters sent could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005 (column 137WS140WS). Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House. The report for 2005 will be published in due course.

Newspaper and Magazine Distribution

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and (b) the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) since December 2005 on the potential impact on the freedom of the press of the OFT's final opinion in its review of newspaper and magazine distribution;
	(2)  what representations her Department has made to (a) the Office of Fair Trading and (b) the Department of Trade and Industry during the review of the newspaper and magazine distribution.

James Purnell: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) or with any other Government Department, although officials have held a meeting with OFT officials. The Secretary of State wrote to the Chairman of the OFT on 12 October 2005, pointing out that serious concern had been expressed about how a different system could protect plurality and serve the public. She asked the OFT to give these concerns appropriate weight in reaching its conclusions.

Olympic Games

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the terms of reference are for the KPMG contract to scrutinise the 2012 Olympics; how much the project will cost; and whether preliminary conclusions have been reached.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 13 March 2006
	KPMG are providing support for the ongoing analysis of the various elements of the costs of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. As this work is ongoing, the final cost will depend on the amount of work carried out.

Private Offices

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of her private office was in the last year for which figures are available.

Tessa Jowell: For the financial year 200405, the cost of my private office was 344,480.

Television Licence

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions for television licence evasion there were in each of the last five years; and how many in each category were of women.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The information from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform is contained in the table and shows the number of people prosecuted against at magistrates courts and convicted at all courts for offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1969 (mainly television license evasion) and the Communications Act 2003, in England and Wales, 20002004.
	
		Number of defendants prosecuted and convicted for offences relating to television licence evasion in England and Wales, 200004(1) -- Defendants
		
			  Prosecuted Convicted 
			  Male Female Total(2) Male Female Total(2) 
		
		
			 2000 44,057 77,067 121,137 37,314 68,400 105,726 
			 2001 34,174 62,297 96,484 28,611 55,128 83,751 
			 2002 39,421 70,739 110,170 33,465 63,124 96,596 
			 2003 35,640 58,257 93,915 29,247 50,609 79,870 
			 2004(3) 43,724 71,900 115,643 35,531 62,221 97,766 
		
	
	(1) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(2) Total figures include other defendants such as companies.
	(3) The TV licensing provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 were replaced by new provisions in the Communications Act 2003 which came into effect 1 April 2004.
	Source:
	RDS-Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Temporary Events (Licensing)

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under what circumstances temporary events notices can be used for licensing large scale temporary events.

James Purnell: holding answer 6 March 2006
	Licensable activities can be authorised under a temporary event notice, provided that no more than 499 people will be on the premises at any one time when licensable activities are being carried on. The maximum figure of 499 does not just include the audience, spectators or consumers, but also includes, for example, staff, organisers, stewards and performers who will be present on the premises.
	A temporary event notice can be given for part of a building, such as a single room or a plot within a larger area of land. It may therefore be possible to use a temporary event notice to cover licensable activity that is being carried out as part of a larger event which is not otherwise licensable under the 2003 Act. For example, it may be possible to operate the bar or entertainment areas at a country show or outdoor sporting event under temporary event notices, rather than licensing the whole event. Premises users should consider carefully whether there are licensable activities taking place outside of the areas covered by temporary event notices and be confident that they will be able to restrict the number of people in each area covered to less than 500 at any one time when licensable activities are taking place. Activities may otherwise be unlawful and the premises user could be liable to prosecution. If in doubt, premise users should check with their licensing authority.

SCOTLAND

Engagements

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) public speeches and (b) official visits he has made since 5 May 2005; and how many letters he sent in this period.

David Cairns: In his capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. Friend has made (a) six public speeches; (b) 20 official visits; and (c) sent approximately 315 letters since 5 May 2005. This is in addition to his responsibilities as Secretary of State for Transport, which will be outlined in a separate response. I have also made speeches, undertaken official visits and issued many letters in my role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. All speeches and visits are conducted in accordance with the ministerial code.

Private Office

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost of his private office was in the last year for which figures are available.

David Cairns: The information is not available in the form requested. All the Scotland Office private offices have been combined for cost and efficiency purposes.

Transport Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what investment in transport infrastructure schemes to support economic regeneration is being considered in Objective 1 areas in Scotland; what the schemes are; what the amount of public investment is; and when he expects decisions to be made.

David Cairns: On 28 February the Government launched a consultation on the UK's draft national strategic reference framework for the Structural Funds from 200713. This will establish the broad priorities for future Structural Funds programmes in the UK, and provide programme managers with an initial basis to begin planning for the 200713 financial perspective.
	The consultation will end on 22 May, and the Department of Trade and Industry aims to publish a response to the consultation within three months of that date.
	Implementation of the Structural Funds in Scotland is devolved and is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

CABINET OFFICE

Engagements

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will list his official engagements for each day in February 2006.

Ian McCartney: My duties for the month of February included: the formulation and development of Government policy and attending meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I also attended Cabinet and contributed to decisions taken by Cabinet and its sub-committees.

Fast Stream Applicants

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many applicants there were to the Civil Service fast stream competition from (a) Oxford and Cambridge universities, (b) the Russell Group of universities and (c) all other universities in the UK in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how many in each category (i) passed the initial examination and (ii) were offered fast stream appointments in (A) the Home Civil Service, (B) the Diplomatic Service, (C) the Customs and Revenue Service and (D) elsewhere.

Jim Murphy: The latest available figures are those contained in the 2004 annual report on Fast Stream recruitment, published in June 2005 and available online at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/reports/faststream. The total number of applications to the 2004 competition from Oxford and Cambridge universities was 1,382; non Oxbridge applications were 7,216. We do not collate the number of applications for the Russell Group universities but a full analysis of total applications by university can be found within the report.
	No data is collated to show how these specific groups of candidates performed at different stages of the selection process, or which Fast Stream option they joined if successful. In total, however, 167 applicants from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and 300 from other universities, were recommended for appointment

Official Car

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what car is made available to him at public expense; how many miles he covered in this car in February 2006; and for how many hours in that month a chauffeur was available to him.

Ian McCartney: I have the use of an official car for my Government duties. When using a Government car I adhere to the requirements of the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers deported or removed from the UK in (a) 1995, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002 and (e) 2003 were aged (i) 15, (ii) 16, (iii) 17 and (iv) 18 years; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The information requested for these years is not available.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available on the Home Office's Research Development and Statistics website at:http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants in 2005 had previously unsuccessfully applied for a visa.

Tony McNulty: The requested information is not available.

Cannabis

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) cautioned and (b) prosecuted by Lancashire police for possession of cannabis in each of the last 10 years.

Hazel Blears: The requested information is given in the table. Available data for prosecutions relate to the number of persons dealt with at court.
	
		Number of persons in Lancashire receiving police cautions and dealt with at court for cannabis possession, 1995 to 2004
		
			  Cautioned by police(4) Dealt with at court(5) 
		
		
			 1995 1,109 508 
			 1996 1,153 538 
			 1997 1575 801 
			 1998 1,904 1,110 
			 1999 1,583 965 
			 2000 1,316 903 
			 2001 1,349 885 
			 2002 1,354 1,011 
			 2003 1,638 1,046 
			 2004 370 224 
		
	
	(4) Excludes police formal warnings for cannabis possession which are not counted as police cautions.
	(5) Includes those found not guilty.
	The large falls in police cautions and numbers dealt with at court in 2004 coincide with the introduction of formal warnings for cannabis possession in January 2004.

Cash-in-transit Robberies (Hertfordshire)

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cash-in-transit robberies have taken place in Hertfordshire in each year since 2000.

Hazel Blears: Information on cash-in-transit robberies is not collected centrally. Available information relates to robbery of business property and is given in the following table.
	
		Hertfordshire: recorded offences of robbery of business property
		
			 Financial year Number 
		
		
			 200001 101 
			 200102 112 
			 200203 134 
			 200304 144 
			 200405 83 
		
	
	Note:
	Numbers affected by the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standards which came into effect in 200203. Data not comparable with earlier years.

Child Abuse

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether the IMPACT Nominal Index is fully operational in every child abuse investigations unit in England and Wales;
	(2)  by what date he expects the IMPACT Nominal Index to be operational in all areas of police forces in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 March 2006
	The IMPACT Nominal Index is available in one child abuse investigation unit in each police force in England and Wales. It is also about to be piloted within four Force Intelligence Bureaux; the East Midlands Regional Intelligence Unit; and the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch. It will be deployed more widely within the England and Wales forces during the course of 2006 following an impact appraisal protection, other business areas can, with the authority of a superintendent or higher rank, use the system where it is necessary for the prevention or detection of serious crime.

Child Abuse

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the additional (a) manpower and (b) resources required by police forces in England and Wales to extend the IMPACT Nominal Index from child abuse investigation units to the whole force; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 March 2006
	We have been able to model the potential costs of rolling the IMPACT Nominal Index (INI) out to all child abuse investigation units. These were reported in the answer I gave on 31 January 2006, Official Report, column 369W to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson). However, we do not currently have sufficient data to model the potential costs of rolling the system out to all business areas. We are planning a series of pilots over the next three months to obtain the information needed to do this. We will also shortly be reviewing our estimates of the costs of rolling out to all child abuse investigation units based on an assessment of the impact of the INI since its introduction.

C-NOMIS

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implementation of the C-NOMIS information system.

Fiona Mactaggart: It is proposed to commence the implementation of C-NOMIS at Her Majesty's Prison Albany on the Isle of Wight on 23 July 2006. Other early adopters include the national probation service at Northamptonshire in October 2006. The main rollout will take place throughout 2007, and consultations on the exact order of rollout are taking place.

Crime (Essex)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported incidents of (a) gun crime and (b) violent crime there were in Essex in each of the last five years; and what percentage in each category resulted in a successful prosecution in each year.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 2 February 2006
	The available information is given in the tables. Tables 1 and 2 give the number of firearms offences (excluding air weapons) and violent crimes recorded by Essex police between 200001 and 200405.
	It is not possible to identify the number of offenders found guilty of offences involving firearms as this information is not collected centrally.
	Table 3 gives the number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty for violent offences in the Essex police force area between 2000 and 2004. Court proceedings data are published on a calendar year basis. Data for 2005 will not be available until the autumn.
	Because recorded crime deals with offences and court proceedings with defendants, the two data sets are not directly comparable.
	
		Table 1: Offences recorded by Essex police, 200001and 200102(6) -- Number of offences
		
			  Firearm offences(7) Violent crime(8) 
		
		
			 200001 77 12,232 
			 200102 98 13,703 
		
	
	(6) The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	(7) Excludes air weapons.
	(8) Includes violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery.
	
		Table 2: Offences recorded by Essex police, 200203 to 200405(9) -- Number of offences
		
			  Firearm offences(10) Violent crime(11) 
		
		
			 200203 148 24,583 
			 200304 145 28,782 
			 200405 193 28,135 
		
	
	(9) Data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	(10) Excludes air weapons.
	(11) Includes violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery.
	
		Table 3: Defendants(12) proceeded against and found guilty for violent crime offences(13), Essex, 2000 to 2004
		
			  Proceeded against Found guilty Percentage found guilty 
		
		
			 2000 1,665 728 44 
			 2001 1,940 759 39 
			 2002 1,705 792 46 
			 2003 1,828 863 47 
			 2004 2,003 1,034 52 
		
	
	(12) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(13) Includes violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery.

Crime Victims (Property Recovery)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many incidents in each police force in the last full year for which records are available payment has been required from victims of crime who wish to recover their property from the police or those holding it on behalf of the police; what total sums were received; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: This information is not held centrally.

Departmental Finance

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the administrative costs were of each agency for which he has responsibility in the last year for which figures are available; what the total of such costs was in that year; and whether the costs are regarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable.

Charles Clarke: During 200405 the following administration costs were incurred by the Home Office's agencies:
	Criminal Records Bureau: total administration costs of 19,956,000, all of which is regarded as identifiable expenditure.
	Her Majesty's Prison Service: total administration costs of 79,096,000, all of which is regarded as non-identifiable expenditure.
	UK Passport Service: total administration costs of 83,395,000 (inclusive of 19,974,000 distribution costs), all of which is regarded as non-identifiable expenditure.
	Although not classified as an executive agency, Her Majesty's Treasury has agreed that the control arrangements for the National Probation Service boards provide a sufficient degree of control that they should be considered within the Home Office departmental accounting boundary. However, in accordance with public expenditure classifications, expenditure incurred by the National Probation Service boards is classified as programme.

Departmental Staff

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been employed in the Home Secretary's private office in each year since 1997.

Charles Clarke: Staffing figures from 1997 are not held centrally. Records show staffing figures for the Home Secretary's Private Office from 2001 as:
	
		
			  Staff numbers 
		
		
			 200001 15 
			 200102 15 
			 200203 16 
			 200304 16 
			 200405 13 
			 200506 (14)11 
		
	
	(14) Estimated for April 2006.

Detainees (Religious Provision)

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) prayer mats and (b) compasses are provided in North Wales police premises for the use of Muslim detainees.

Hazel Blears: The provisions in North Wales Police is a matter for the chief officer and information is not held centrally on arrangements in place by individual police forces.
	The Code of Practice on detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers (Code C) issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act requires that any specific dietary or religious beliefs the person may have should be met as far as practicable.
	The guidance Safer Detention and Handling of Persons in Police Custody issued on 8 February 2006 jointly by Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Centre for Policing Excellence states that consideration should be given to providing a separate room which can be used as a prayer room; the supply of appropriate food and clothing; and suitable provision for prayer facilities, such as uncontaminated copies of religious books.

DNA Samples

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2006, Official Report, column 1976W, on DNA samples, whether police personnel who have been included on the Police Elimination Database and subsequently leave the service have their DNA profile removed from the National DNA Database.

Hazel Blears: In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, all DNA profiles obtained from police officers are removed from the Police Elimination Database (PED) as soon as they leave the police force, unless they transfer to another force. The PED is separate from the National DNA Database.

Domestic Violence

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is available in the Stroud constituency to deal with domestic violence.

Hazel Blears: The provisions made available through Stroud district council contribute to the wider Gloucestershire Co-ordinated Community Response to addressing domestic violence. All police force areas and Crown prosecution areas have appointed dedicated domestic violence champions.
	The provisions available in Stroud to address domestic violence cover a range of services which include:
	The development of the Housing Statement for the Co-ordinated Community Response which recommends the use of eviction clauses by social landlords, and provides choices for victim/survivor to stay in their homes and remove the perpetrator, move immediately or make a planned move.
	The funding of two refuges that provide outreach services to victims and survivors of domestic violence.
	Contribution to the Gloucestershire Domestic Violence Support and Advocacy Project (GDVSAP), which provides outreach and support services to victim/survivors; raises awareness of domestic violence in the area and has been instrumental in developing nationally accredited training in domestic violence.
	The appointment of a new Domestic Violence Co-ordinator with a County remit.

Drugs

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the country of origin of (i) cocaine, (ii) heroin and (iii) cannabis sold illegally in the UK.

Paul Goggins: It is assessed that at least 95 per cent. of heroin in the UK originates in Afghanistan; and that most cocaine originates in Colombia with lesser amounts from other South American countries such as Peru and Bolivia. Most Cannabis resin is assessed to originate in Morocco. Herbal cannabis is grown across the world and may originate from a number of countries, including the UK.

Free Movement

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what conditions a national of another EU state may be expelled from the UK under existing legislation; and under what conditions the Government will be able to expel a national of another EU state after the entry into force of Directive 2004/38/EC, on the free movement of persons.

Tony McNulty: Council Directive 64/221/EEC provides that EU nationals may only be expelled from the UK on grounds of public policy, public security or public health. These provisions are reflected in regulations 21, 22 and 23 of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2000 (as amended).
	Regulation 26(3) provides that where a decision is taken to remove a person on one of these grounds then he is to be treated as if he were liable to deportation being a person to whom section 3(5) of the Immigration Act 1971 applied.
	Directive 2004/38/EC will be transposed into UK legislation via the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006, which are currently being drafted and will laid by negative resolution so as enter into force on 30 April 2006.
	Chapter VI (Articles 27 to 33) of Directive 2004/38 concerns restrictions on the right of entry and residence of EU nationals on grounds of public policy, public security or public health. The Directive will continue to allow the UK to remove EEA nationals on the grounds of public policy, public security or public health.

Hepatitis

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners with (a) hepatitis B and (b) hepatitis C; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information about the numbers of prisoners with hepatitis B and hepatitis C is not collected centrally.
	In 199798, the then Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) undertook an unlinked, anonymised survey of the prevalence of blood borne viruses amongst prisoners in England. This indicated that the prevalence of hepatitis B was 7.8 and that of Hepatitis C was 7.5 per cent.

Home Detention Curfews

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the processes within the part of the criminal justice system for which he is responsible for responding to breaches in home detention curfew; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The electronic monitoring contractors are required to report breaches of Home Detention Curfew to the Home Office within 24 hours. Performance in this area has improved under the new electronic monitoring contracts that began to operate in April 2005. In February 2006, breaches were reported on time in 99 per cent. of cases.
	Where the Home Office is notified that a breach of licence conditions has been committed by an offender on the Home Detention Curfew, a revocation order is issued within 24 hours of notification being made.
	Arrest of the offender and subsequent return to custody is an operational matter for the police. Work is underway to ensure that all revocation orders are actioned as quickly as possible.

Illegal Immigrants

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were committed by illegal immigrants in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not available from the recorded crime statistics.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many immigration case files are stowed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's work-in-progress hold; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many case files now stored in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's work-in-progress hold relate to applications submitted to his Department in (a) 2006, (b) each of the six preceding calendar years and (c) an earlier period; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The information is not available in the form requested.

Immigration Detention Centres

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those held at immigration detention centres in 2005 were held at more than one centre during their period of detention.

Tony McNulty: The required statistics could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Italian prosecutors have contacted UK law enforcement agencies in relation to an investigation of Italian arms exported to Iraq.

Hazel Blears: It is the Home Office's practice to treat letters of request for assistance in criminal matters from foreign governments confidentially, as communications between two countries. We are normally therefore unable to confirm or deny that we have received a request.
	However, the United Kingdom remains committed to assisting its international partners in the fight against crime wherever possible.

Liverpool Prison

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions he has taken to address the culture of bullying at HMP Liverpool identified by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The prison's primary mechanism for dealing with bullying is through the Tackling Antisocial Behaviour (TAB) strategy, which takes a zero tolerance approach and includes a staged response to challenge prisoners who bully and support those who are the victims of this behaviour.
	The TAB committee is chaired by the Head of Safer Custody. It brings together suicide and self-harm, violence reduction, anti-bullying and drug strategies to ensure a consistent establishment-wide response in these important areas and to maintain safe, ordered and decent environment for those in the prison's care.
	The Chief Inspector also expressed specific concerns about the role and safety of the vulnerable prisoner unit. An action plan has been put in place and prisoner feedback and levels of assaults, self harm, use of control and restraint and unexplained injuries all indicate that those requiring protection can be effectively protected.

Mini-motorcycles

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unregistered mini-motorcycles have been confiscated by the police in (a) Greater Manchester, (b) the North West and (c) England in the last two years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 March 2006
	This information is not collected centrally.

Parliamentary Questions

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Woking, reference (a) 4414043, (b) 4464248, (c) 44118, (d) 44120 and (e) 44125.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 6 February 2006
	I have replied to the hon. Member as follows:
	44140 on 9 February
	44142 on 14 February
	44143 on 9 February
	44145 on 26 January
	44642 on 2 February
	44643 on7 March
	44645 on 9 February
	44646 on 14 February
	44647 on 14 February
	44660 on 26 January
	The following questions were transferred:
	44120 and 44141 transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to answer
	44118 transferred to the Treasury to answer
	44125 and 44148 transferred to the Department of Health to answer
	Question 44644 was answered by the Department of Health on 31 January.

Passport Information Sharing

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) plans, (b) regulations, (c) guidance and (d) facilities there are for the sharing of (i) biometric and (ii) other details to be contained within passports with (A) foreign governments and (B) the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The UK Passport Service and the Immigration Service pass details contained within passports, including the facial biometric, to foreign and EU immigration/border control/law enforcement agencies on a case by case basis for the prevention or detection of crime and the apprehension or prosecution of offenders.
	The UK Passport Service is in discussion with the US Departments of Homeland Security and State and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs about the mutual sharing of the personal details, including the facial biometric, contained within passports. This would be for the purpose of checking passports presented in support of visa applications and/or for travel. This will be in accordance with existing legislation, mainly the Data Protection Act 1998, and Memoranda of Understanding will be agreed. There are no plans for similar arrangements with the EU.

Police

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to increase the (a) number and (b) percentage of black and ethnic minority employees in the police service.

Hazel Blears: It remains the Government's policy that the composition of the police work force should reflect the communities which it serves. The police service continues to make progress against the Home Secretary's recruitment targets for 2009, and all forces are committed to recruit from minority ethnic groups in proportion to, or at a level above, their representation in the local economically active population. Performance against this objective is a key performance indicator in the policing performance assessment framework.
	In 1999, two per cent. of police officers were from minority ethnic communities, the latest available figures show that at 31 March 2005 black and minority ethnic police officers made up 3.5 per cent. of total officer strength. Between April 2004 and March 2005, a further 371 minority ethnic police officers were recruited. 2,497 minority ethnic officers have been recruited since 1999. In March 2005, there were 5,250 minority ethnic police staff, accounting for 6.5 per cent. of the total. This represents an increase of 703 (13.4 per cent.) between April 2004 and March 2005.
	The Home Office is working with the police service to accelerate the pace of change. The measures currently in hand include outreach programmes in police forces, engagement with student faith societies and black students' unions to encourage applications from minority ethnic graduates and measures to increase minority ethnic applications to the High Potential Development Scheme. The Home Office has developed in collaboration with force recruitment departments materials aimed at increasing recruitment from minority ethnic groups, including multi-lingual recruitment material, a toolkit providing best practice guidance for familiarisation events and a video to familiarise applicants with police assessment and selection procedures.

Police

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) role and (b) purpose of the basic command units is; and what changes are proposed under the Government's reforms.

Hazel Blears: Basic command units (BCUs) are operational policing units covering a geographical area within a force such as a town or district and consist of several hundred police officers and staff. Their main purpose is to tackle local crime and disorder and respond to the varied demands made by the public.
	The Police and Justice Bill proposes to put BCUs on a statutory footing and requires their boundaries to be aligned with those of local authorities. No changes to the role or purpose of BCUs are proposed under the new Bill.

Police

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice was given to police forces that had delayed investing in IT systems because they expected a national intelligence system to be in place by 2007 once it became clear that delivery of the national system would be delayed until at least 2010.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 March 2006
	I am not aware of any advice of this nature being given by the Home Office to forces. The IMPACT Nominal Index is already facilitating the sharing of intelligence and other information between forces and further functionality will be incrementally delivered over the coming years.

Prison Management

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the mechanisms available for the spread of best practice in effective prison management.

Fiona Mactaggart: There are a variety of mechanisms for spreading best practice. Reports from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP), Independent Monitoring Boards and Standards Audit Unit highlight aspects of effective practice and these are published for staff, along with items identified by headquarter policy teams. A performance co-ordinator in each area draws on effective practice identified locally and their network meetings are used to disseminate findings more widely. Additionally, best practice is promoted across the contracted estate through quarterly contract review meetings and formal meetings with establishment directors. A contracted prisons conference has taken place for the past two years, showcasing and promoting best practice across the sector.

Prisoners

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the rates of psychotic illness amongst (a) remand prisoners and (b) convicted prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information is not available in the form requested.
	A survey of psychiatric morbidity among prisoners in England and Wales in 1997, by the Office for National Statistics, indicated that 10 per cent. of remanded and seven per cent, of sentenced men had suffered from a functional psychosis in the year before the survey.
	Source:
	Psychiatric Morbidity Amongst Prisoners in England and Wales (ONS, 1998)

Prisoners

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicide attempts in (a) men's prisons, (b) women's prisons and (c) young offender institutions were recorded in (i) England, (ii) the North East and (iii) the Tees Valley in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: There is no definition of what constitutes a 'suicide attempt,' as it is very difficult to measure suicidal intent. Data recording incidents of 'attempted suicide' are effectively subsumed within those for self-harm, which cover all acts of self-injury, however serious. The number of recorded incidents of self-harm involving (a) men in English prisons and (b) women in English prisons is shown in the table A: It should be noted with respect to all the tables that a new form for reporting self-harm (the F213SH) was introduced in December 2002. The increase in self-harm incidents from 2003 is likely to be related to the change in reporting, rather than reflect an actual increase in number of self-harm incidents.
	The number of recorded incidents of self-harm in English Young Offenders' Institutions (YOls) is shown in the table B. There are no female YOls, so all incidents involve male prisoners.
	The number of recorded incidents of self-harm in the North East Area, broken down by gender, is shown in the table C.
	The number of recorded incidents of self-harm in YOls in the North East is shown in the table D. All involve male young offenders.
	The number of recorded incidents of self-harm in establishments in Tees Valley (i.e. HMYOI Deerbolt, HMP Holme House and HMP Kirklevington) is shown in the table E. All incidents involve male prisoners.
	
		Table A
		
			  Male incidents Female incidents 
		
		
			 1997 1,276 132 
			 1998 2,636 200 
			 1999 2,684 474 
			 2000 3,784 860 
			 2001 5,225 2,110 
			 2001 6,212 3,333 
			 2003 8,298 7,306 
			 2004 8,976 9,662 
			 2005 8,856 12,867 
		
	
	
		Table B
		
			  Number of incidents 
		
		
			 1997 143 
			 1998 277 
			 1999 363 
			 2000 443 
			 2001 444 
			 2002 670 
			 2003 1,119 
			 2004 1,251 
			 2005 1,511 
		
	
	
		Table C
		
			  Female Incidents Males Incidents 
		
		
			 1997 2 99 
			 1998 5 134 
			 1999 25 155 
			 2000 147 278 
			 2001 356 386 
			 2002 433 421 
			 2003 663 507 
			 2004 1,029 475 
			 2005 1,192 615 
		
	
	
		Table D
		
			  Number of incidents 
		
		
			 1997 7 
			 1998 27 
			 1999 64 
			 2000 95 
			 2001 95 
			 2002 95 
			 2003 160 
			 2004 147 
			 2005 190 
		
	
	
		Table E
		
			  Deerbolt Holme House Kirklevington 
		
		
			 1997 4 37  
			 1998 3 22 2 
			 1999 5 30  
			 2000 11 30  
			 2001 2 92  
			 2002 11 93  
			 2003 68 59  
			 2004 59 96  
			 2004 100 67

Prisoners

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are on suicide watch in (a) men's prisons, (b) women's prisons and (c) young offenders' institutions in (i) England, (ii) the North East and (iii) the Tees Valley.

Fiona Mactaggart: 'Suicide watch' is not a term used by the Prison Service. The level of observation for any individual prisoner identified to be at risk of suicide or self-harm can vary and is decided ordinarily by a multi-disciplinary case review team.
	A proxy measure for the number of prisoners subject to enhanced observation due to their risk of suicide/self-harm may be the number of individuals on open F2052SH/ACCT documents (the care plans for prisoners considered at risk of suicide/self-harm); however, this information is not available centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to reduce the levels of (a) suicides and attempted suicides, (b) violent attacks and (c) self harm in prisons.

Fiona Mactaggart: A broad, integrated and evidence-based prisoner suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy is in place. The strategy can be summarised as, 'Reducing distress and promoting the well being of all who live and work in prisons.' It operates by embedding 'safer custody' as a current through every area of prison lifeincluding detoxification, healthcare, staff training, and the built environment. The key intervention currently being introduced across public and private prisons is the new care-planning system for at-risk prisoners: Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT). ACCT aims to improve the quality of care by introducing flexible care-planning that is prisoner-centred, supported by improved staff training in assessing and understanding at-risk prisoners.
	Comprehensive electronic guidance to staff on managing people who self-harm has been issued; this was developed in close partnership with the Department of Health and the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) and aims to be of use to all those working with people who self-harm within a secure environment.
	The national Violence Reduction Strategy was launched in May 2004. The national Strategy requires each establishment to have in place a local Violence Reduction strategy appropriate to needs. A whole prison approach is encouraged, with the aim of reducing violence and fear of violence. A focus on personal safety, supporting victims, and repairing the physical and emotional harm caused by violence or abuse, links closely with the suicide prevention strategy.

Prisoners

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to prevent those convicted of and imprisoned for hate crimes seeking to indoctrinate other prisoners.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The Prison Service is working to develop a broad based strategic approach to address the problems associated with finding suitable interventions to effectively tackle racist attitudes and behaviours; this includes giving staff information to help them identify racist or other phobic attitudes. Existing risk management processes, in particular cell-sharing risk assessment, help staff to identify individuals who may have racist or homophobic attitudes and make accommodation decisions that reduce the risk of violence motivated by hate.

Probation Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many posts there are in the probation service establishment in (a) the Thames Valley Criminal Justice Board area and (b) each local criminal justice board area within the Thames Valley; how many and what proportion of such posts in each area were vacant on the most recent date for which figures are available; how many posts in each area were filled by probation officers with less than two years' experience on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Not all probation areas in the national probation service operate a set establishment against which vacant posts can be measured. As a more representative alternative, probation areas are required to report regularly on the number of active vacancies they have. An active vacancy is one which a probation area is actively trying to fill through a recruitment process.
	Staffing information is collected by probation area, and is not collected centrally in sufficient detail to allow figures for sub sections within Thames Valley to be presented separately. The following staffing figures are provided for the Thames Valley probation area only.
	Figures for 31 December 2005 show that there were a total of 622.20 full-time equivalent staff in post in the Thames Valley probation area. On the same date there were 22.70 full-time equivalent vacancies that were actively being recruited to. Therefore active vacancies accounted for 3.52 percent. of the total posts available at that time.
	There were 126.17 full-time equivalent probation officers employed in the Thames valley probation area on 31 December 2005, and of these 35.19 had less than two years experience. This equates to 27.89 percent. of the total probation officer workforce in Thames Valley.

Probation Services

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the responses received by his Department to the consultation paper, Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-Offending.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Department received nearly 750 responses to the consultation on Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending. We will publish a summary of all the responses and the key issues raised, including a full list of respondents. In line with Cabinet Office guidelines we do not intend to place copies of all the responses received in the Library.

Public Order

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many of the protesters outside the Danish Embassy on 4 February have been identified by the police;
	(2)  how many arrests have been made following the demonstrations outside the Danish Embassy on 4 February; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that the inquiry is ongoing and has so far led to 22 individuals being considered for prosecution. Of these, four have been identified to the satisfaction of police. Every effort is being taken to positively identify all 22 individuals. The Metropolitan police expect to begin making arrests shortly.

Public Order

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people normally resident in the Peterborough City Council area were taken to court for breach of antisocial behaviour orders in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: From antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) breach data recorded centrally we are not able to identify where an offender resides. The data only cover breach proceedings where there has been a conviction and are currently available from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003 for ASBOs issued since 1 June 2000. These data are available at criminal justice system area level only. During this period eight persons are recorded as having breached their ASBO on one or more occasions in Cambridgeshire.

Respect Action Plan

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision the Government has made to ensure local authorities have the funding needed to implement a truancy officer to be assigned to truant families and children as set out in the Respect action plan.

Hazel Blears: Interventions to tackle persistent truancy form a key strand in the Respect programme. Local authorities are responsible for delivering outcomes and services within the budget that they control. The Government expects local authorities to make more effective use of existing resources to tackle truants. These include: the local authorities' expert Behaviour and Attendance consultants who help schools manage behaviour and attendance problems; Education Welfare services; and funding from the Behaviour Improvement Programme.

Security Industry

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on an extension of the deadline for employees in the security industry seeking possession of the new Security Industry Authority identity card; what consideration the Government have given to this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The date of implementation of 20 March 2006 was agreed after consultation with the industry and has been publicised for the last two years. I have made clear on a number of occasions that this date will not be moved.

Security Industry

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government proposes to take against those firms in the security industry who have been unable to ensure that all their employees are in possession of the new security industry association identity card; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The issue of compliance with the requirements of the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) 2001 is a matter for the Security Industry Authority who retain operational responsibility. They continue to work with their partners and law enforcement agencies such as the police, and local authorities on matters of compliance. The SIA's enforcement policy can be found on their website at www.the-sia.org.uk.

Security Industry

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been employed by the Security Industry Authority in each year since its establishment; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The number of staff directly employed by the Security Industry Authority at the end point of each financial year since its creation in April 2003 is set out in the following table. During this period its responsibilities have increased as the sectors required to be licensed have increased, and as the Approved Contractor Scheme has been developed.
	
		
			 As at Number of staff employed 
		
		
			 31 March 2004 44 
			 31 March 2005 74 
			 28 February 2006 97

Security Industry

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent to which a black market for door supervisors has led to a disparity between the number of qualified door supervisors and the number officially licensed by the Security Industry Authority.

Hazel Blears: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) estimates that there is currently a demand for about 46,000 door supervisors. As at 1 March 2006, the SIA has licensed 40,188 door supervisors from 50,845 applications. 2,578 applications have been refused, and the remainder are being processed. The SIA continues to work closely with partners and law enforcement agencies on issues of compliance with the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

Security Industry

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of unlicensed door supervisors employed at licensed premises; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The size of the door supervisor market is currently estimated to be in the region of 46,000. As at 1 March, 50,845 applications have been made to the Security Industry Authority for licences, 40,188 have been granted, 2,578 refused, and the remainder are being processed.

Security Industry

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what agreements were reached between the Security Industry Authority and the private security industry about the number of applications for door supervisor licences to be submitted to the Security Industry Authority each month; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: No agreements were made between the Security Industry Authority and the Private Security Industry about the number of Door Supervisors licences to be submitted each month, as the roll out of the Door Supervisor licensing scheme was conducted through a regional rollout across the country.

Security Industry

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises were carried out by (a) licensed door supervisors and (b) unlicensed door supervisors in each region since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: This information is not held centrally and gathering such information would attract a disproportionate cost.

Under-age Drinking (Swindon)

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of outlets in Swindon were found to be selling alcohol to minors between 12 November and 24 December (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Paul Goggins: Information on test-purchase operations is not routinely collected by the Home Office. However, in the course of specific campaigns to tackle the misuse of alcohol, the Police Standards Unit collected data on test-purchase operations carried out between:
	(a) 17 December 2004 and 03 January 2005, and
	(b) 14 November 2005 and 31 December 2005.
	No records were found of any test-purchase operations in Swindon for the period 17 December 20043 January 2005.
	Between 14 November 2005 and 31 December 2005, 10 test-purchase operations were carried out in Swindon, none of which resulted in a sale of alcohol to a minor.

Vandalism

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of vandalism were reported in (a) Lancashire and (b) Ribble Valley in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The requested information is given in the following tabled Offences of vandalism are recorded within the criminal damage group classification.
	Crime statistics for Ribble Valley are recorded at Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) level; and for the offence of criminal damage are available from 200001 to 200405.
	
		Recorded offences of Criminal Damage
		
			  Lancashire Lancashire Ribble Valley 
		
		
			 1997 26,767   
			 199899  21,360  
			 19992000  22,776  
			 200001  25,445 399 
			 200102  31,925 609 
			 200203  30,733 560 
			 200304  39,447 692 
			 200405  40,863 718 
		
	
	Notes:
	Criminal damage for Ribble Valley only available from 200001.
	Numbers affected by changes in the counting rules and expanded coverage of recorded crime. Data not comparable with earlier years.
	Numbers affected by the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standards which came into effect in 200203. Data not comparable with earlier years.

Visa Holders

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the results were of the tracking exercises to monitor compliance by visa holders.

Tony McNulty: The results and feedback from the notifications of non-enrolment and discontinuation of study project run by the Immigration Nationality Directorate (IND) with educational institutions (also known as the Joint Notifications Project) that ran from 1 September 2005 to 17 February 2006 are currently being analysed. IND will be discussing the results of the project later this month with the participants. Initial indications are that the project has been well received by the education sector.

Young Adult Offenders

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on developing a strategy for the management of young adult offenders in custody.

Fiona Mactaggart: The National Offender Management Service has established a Young Adult Offender Project to develop a strategy and standards for the management of young adult offenders in custody and the community, to take into account their specific needs and offending behaviour. This project will be working with the voluntary and community sector, including stakeholders such as the Howard League, Barrow Cadbury and the Prison Reform Trust, who have a clear understanding of the problems involved with this age group.
	The project team will examine the processes for dealing with young adult offenders across the Criminal Justice System. This will include consideration of the abolition of the sentence of Detention in a Young Offender Institution (DYOI) and the implications and impact of this on a young person's vulnerability and needs if they are to be integrated with the adult prisoner population.
	This strategy will seek to ensure that appropriate training, resources and interventions for young adults are developed in conjunction with the National Reducing Re-offending Delivery Plan published in November 2005.
	To support this initiative, a Project Board has been set up and a scoping study carried out.

TREASURY

Average Earnings (Ribble Valley)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average earnings of full-time employees in Ribble Valley constituency were in April in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 March 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask what the average earnings of full-time employees in Ribble Valley constituency were in April in each year since 1997. (58596)
	Average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. This is the standard definition used for ASHE. The ASHE does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I attach tables showing Average Gross Weekly Earnings by parliamentary constituency for the years 1997 to 2005 for Full Time Employees on Adult Rates. These statistics are also available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=13101.
	The ASHE, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	
		Gross weekly pay for Full Time Employee jobs(15) by place of work -- 
		
			 Ribble Valley Median Mean 
		
		
			 1997 325.4 332.4 
			 1998 *317.3 337.9 
			 1999 *343.0 370.5 
			 2000 *300.1 X 
			 2001 *372.4 **469.7 
			 2002 *363.4 X 
			 2003 *390.1 X 
			 2004 *358.1 X 
			 2004(16) *363.0 X 
			 2005 *438.5 **585.3 
		
	
	(15) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.
	(16) Includes Supplementary survey data.
	Guide to quality:
	The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality.
	The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV e.g. for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220.
	Key:
	CV = 5%
	* CV5% and =10%
	** CV10% and =20%
	The median replaces the mean as the headline statistic. The weighted mean is the sum of the weighted values divided by the sum of the weights. The median is the value below which 50 per cent. of employees fall. It is preferred over the mean for earnings data as it is influenced less by extreme values and because of the skewed distribution of earnings data.
	Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.
	
		Weekly pay for Full Time Employee jobs(17) by place of residence -- 
		
			  
			 Ribble Valley Median Mean 
		
		
			 1997 n/a n/a 
			 1998 n/a n/a 
			 1999 n/a n/a 
			 2000 n/a n/a 
			 2001 n/a n/a 
			 2002 *426.7 488.3 
			 2003 *440.4 495.7 
			 2004 *463.7 *528.1 
			 2004(18) *468.2 525.2 
			 2005 *463.1 *555.6 
		
	
	n/a = Denotes data not available.
	(17) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.
	(18) Includes Supplementary survey data.
	Guide to quality:
	The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality.
	The true value is likely to lie within +1- twice the CV e.g. for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220.
	Key:
	CV = 5%
	* CV5%and=.10%
	** CV10%and=20%
	The median replaces the mean as the headline statistic. The weighted mean is the sum of the weighted values divided by the sum of the weights. The median is the value below which 50 per cent. of employees fall. It is preferred over the mean for earnings data as it is influenced less by extreme values and because of the skewed distribution of earnings data.
	Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

Bank Accounts

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in West Lancashire did not have access to a bank account on (a) 31 December 2005 and (b) 31 December 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The most recent data available that allow assessment to be made of the number of households with no access to a bank account are the Family Resources Survey from 200203. Those indicate that 8 per cent. of households in the United Kingdom had no bank account of any kind. This equated to 1.9 million households containing around 2.8 million adults. The data are broken down to Government Office regional level. This shows 9 per cent. of households in the North West and Merseyside were unbanked.
	In 199798, the Family Resources Survey was collected on a Great Britain basis, excluding Northern Ireland. 11 per cent. of households in the North West and Merseyside were unbanked at that time compared to 8 per cent. of households in Great Britain as a whole.
	In December 2004, the Government and the banks agreed to work together towards the goal of halving the number of adults in households with no access to a bank account of any kind and of making significant progress within two years. The Financial Inclusion Taskforce has been asked to monitor progress and will report to Government shortly.

Bank Accounts

Nick Harvey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government plan to take steps to promote the use of basic bank accounts.

Ivan Lewis: Following the report of Policy Action Team 14: Access to Financial Services in 1999, the banking industry worked with the Government to introduce the basic bank account which is specifically designed to address the needs of the financially excluded.
	In December 2004, the Government and the banks agreed to work towards the goal of halving the number of adults in households with no bank account of any kind and of having made significant progress within two years. The Government established a Financial Inclusion Taskforce to monitor progress towards this goal and to report on what more needs to be done.
	The taskforce is due to report to Government shortly and Ministers will consider whether further action may be necessary.

Child Benefit (Northern Ireland)

William McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are in receipt of child benefit in each Northern Ireland parliamentary constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families claiming child benefit in each of the 18 Northern Ireland constituencies at August 2004 can be found on the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/cb_geog_aug04_aug05.pdf.
	Figures for August 2005 will be published on 28 April 2006.

Child Trust Funds

Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further steps he plans to take to encourage parents to invest their child trust fund vouchers.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the floor of the House to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) on 2 March 2006, Official Report, column 392.

Child Trust Funds

Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing tax incentives to encourage poorer parents to invest in trust funds for siblings who are not eligible for child trust fund vouchers.

Ivan Lewis: The child trust fund became operational from April 2005. To show we understood the issue of older children the Government backdated the eligibility date to all children born on or after 1 September 2002 to align with school years. It is important to recognise that to realise the success of the child trust fund for future generations we must draw a line somewhere.
	There already exists considerable scope for tax-relieved savings for children. All children have their own personal tax allowance and parents are taxed on income generated from contributions to their child's account only when those gifts produce more than 100 gross income per parent per year.
	In addition, the market offers a wide range of savings and investment accounts designed especially for children from national savings and investment products to products offered by friendly societies, banks and building societies.

Civil Registration

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward legislation to give effect to the proposals in the Civil Registration White Paper.

John Healey: In a written statement on 16 November 2005, I confirmed that the Government remained committed to the modernisation of the registration service in England and Wales, and announced the publication of the position and consultation paper 'Registration Modernisation'. This sets out how the Government intend to take forward the modernisation of civil registration and contains details of the changes to be introduced. Those requiring primary legislation will be taken forward as and when opportunities for legislation arise.
	A copy of 'Registration Modernisation' has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Consultants

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by his Department and its agencies on (a) consultancy and (b) external secondments in each year since 200001.

John Healey: The available figures are set out in the following table.
	
		000
		
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 (a) Consultancy(19)  
			 HM Treasury 1,667 1,160 (20)3,030 6,160 4,910 
			 Office of Government Commerce (21) (21) (21) 4,218 5,712 
			 OGCbuying.solutions (22) (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 Debt Management Office 890 319 560 525 768 
			 HM Revenue and Customs 39,917 76,671 54,907 69,005 (23)105,490 
			 Valuation Office Agency 45 335 825 1,645 1,420 
			 National Savings and Investments 1,427 4,630 2,827 1,617 1,400 
			 Office for National Statistics 4,473 4,286 (24)6,729 11,761 27,118 
			 Government Actuary's Department 97 48 64 15 19 
			 Royal Mint 529 273 388 219 235 
			   
			 (b) External secondments(25)  
			 HM Treasury (22) (22) 1,038 1,658 1,110 
			 Office of Government Commerce (21) (21) (21) 1,233 2,945 
			 OGCbuying.solutions (22) (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 Debt Management Office 308 281 206 118 12 
			 HM Revenue and Customs (22) (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 Valuation Office Agency (22) (22) (22) 176 128 
			 National Savings and Investments 19 125 111 nil 34 
			 Office for National Statistics (22) (22) (22) (22) 896 
			 Government Actuary's Department nil nil nil nil nil 
			 Royal Mint nil nil 52 78 32 
		
	
	(19) Consultancy costs in the table do not include capital spending.
	(20) Treasury's spending on consultants includes, since 200203, fees to Partnerships UK for their work providing project and policy support to the Treasury and other public bodies on the development, procurement and implementation of public private partnerships.
	(21) Information on OGC's own consultancy and secondment spending for years prior to 200304 could be disaggregated from costs of services engaged on behalf of other bodies only at disproportionate cost.
	(22) Information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	(23) Figures are the aggregate of the former Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise. The increase in costs in 200405 is largely related to expenditure on the Lorry Road User Charge programme.
	(24) The increase in ONS's consultancy expenditure from 200203 is in respect of the major development programmes of work by the department, e.g. Neighbourhood Statistics, Statistical and Technology Modernisation. Most of this expenditure relates to IT systems expertise. Nearly 3 million of the 200405 expenditure related to Value Added Tax, which the Department ceased to be able to recover on these services in that year.
	(25) Secondments or loans from other Government Departments are excluded.

Departmental Staff

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs in his Department have been relocated to Wales since 2001.

John Healey: Since 1 April 2004, HM Revenue and Customs have relocated 111 full-time equivalent posts to Wales. Details for the years prior to April 2004 are not available.
	The Office for National Statistics has relocated 193 full-time equivalent posts to Wales since 2001.
	The Royal Mint relocated 12 full-time equivalent posts to Wales in 2002.
	None of the posts relocated by the Treasury group or other Chancellor's Departments since 2001 has been to Wales.

Domestic Building Work (VAT)

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent discussions he and his officials have had with (a) other EU countries and (b) heritage, amenities and conservation groups on the proposal for a reduced rate of VAT on domestic building work;
	(2)  what estimates he has made of the impact on conservation of a reduction in VAT rates on domestic building work.

Dawn Primarolo: EU Finance Ministers have discussed reduced rates of VAT many times at ECOFIN meetings, most recently on 24 January 2006. A written statement recorded the outcome of this meeting on 31 January 2006, Official Report, column 7WS.
	The Government are aware of the views of heritage and conservation bodies and meets with many interest groups on tax issues including VAT. The issue of VAT on domestic building work has been raised with officials as part of an ongoing dialogue.
	However the Government have only introduced reduced rates where they are convinced they offer the best-targeted and most efficient support for our key social objectives. We continue to keep this under review.
	Any changes are considered by the Chancellor as part of the Budget process and in making these decisions the economic and social impact is taken into account.

Financial Ombudsman Service

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what aspects of the Financial Ombudsman Service are covered in the two-year review process under the Financial Services and Market Act 2000 started in November 2003; and when the report of the review will be published.

Ivan Lewis: As part of the two-year review of the Financial Services and Market Act 2000, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury asked the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) to review:
	the circumstances in which FSA takes regulatory action instead of individual cases being determined by FOS; and
	whether, in specific circumstances, FOS decision should be subject to appeal.
	The Financial Secretary to the Treasury announced the outcome of the Government's review of FSMA on 2 December 2004.
	The responses to the joint FSA and FOS consultation paper and arrangements for dealing with wider implications cases were published in the joint Consultation Paper 05/4, March 2005.

Financial Ombudsman Service

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received by the Financial Ombudsman Service in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The following table outlines the number of complaints received by the Financial Ombudsman Service in each of the past three years.
	
		
			 Year ending 31 March Number of new cases received 
		
		
			 2004 97,901 
			 2005 110,963 
			 2006 (26)115,000 
		
	
	(26) Forecast.

Financial Ombudsman Service

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Financial Ombudsman Service is taking to accelerate its decision-making processes; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is operationally independent of Government. The steps taken by the Financial Ombudsman Service to deal with the demands it faces are detailed in its Corporate Plan and budget 200607 published in January 2006.

Financial Ombudsman Service

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are in place to ensure the independence of the Financial Ombudsman Service from its private financial sector funders; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Financial Ombudsman Service has a board of non-executive, public interest directors who are appointed by the Financial Services Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The chairman of the board is appointed by the Financial Services Authority with the approval of HM Treasury.
	The board's role is to take a strategic overview of the service and to ensure it is properly resourced and able to carry out its functions effectively, impartially and independently.
	The board in turn appoints independent ombudsmen and internal procedures ensure that individual ombudsmen are not subject to conflicts of interest.
	The backgrounds of board members and of senior staff are published on the Financial Ombudsman Service website.

Financial Ombudsman Service

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place to handle complaints about the performance of the Financial Ombudsman Service; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Where users of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) are dissatisfied the matter is initially passed to the internal service review team for investigation. Where users remain dissatisfied the case is passed to the Independent Assessor whose role is to carry out a final review of the service provided by the FOS.
	The Independent Assessor is authorised to make findings and recommendations for redress relating to the service standards of the FOS in cases where he believes it is justified. The Independent Assessor submits his annual report to the Board of the FOS. This report is published in full each year in the Annual Review of the FOS.
	The Annual Review of the FOS includes operational as well as financial information. An independent assessment of the processes and outputs of the FOS was carried out in 2004 and a further such review is planned for 2007.

Financial Ombudsman Service

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mechanism is for lodging an appeal against a decision made by the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Ivan Lewis: An initial assessment of a complaint is made by an adjudicator. If this assessment is disputed, either the complainant or the authorised person can ask an Ombudsman to review the decision. An Ombudsman's final decision is the end of the process and there is no scope for appeal on the merits of the case within the procedures of the Financial Ombudsman Service.
	Complainants are able to pursue their complaints through the courts and both complainants and authorized persons may apply to the court for a judicial review of an Ombudsman's decision.
	The Independent Assessorappointed by and reporting to the board of the Financial Ombudsman Serviceconsiders complaints about service standards.

Financial Ombudsman Service

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of whether staffing levels at the Financial Ombudsman Service are adequate to meet demand; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Staffing levels are the responsibility of the Board and management of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
	The Financial Services Authority (FSA) approves the budget of the FOS and has a duty to ensure that the FOS is at all times capable of exercising its functions.
	The FOS and the FSA are operationally independent of Government.

GDP

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what gross domestic product per capita was in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Scotland and (e) Northern Ireland in (i) 1979, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2005.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 14 March 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for the years 1979, 1997 and 2005. I am replying in her absence. (58464).
	Estimates of GDP per capita for 1979 are shown in Table A attached. For 1997 and 2004, estimates of Gross Value Added (GVA) per capita are shown in table B. GVA is similar in concept to GDP but the estimates are not directly comparable.
	The figures in table A are based on data published in 1998 whilst those in table B are based on regional GVA published in December 2005. Estimates for 2005 are expected to be published in December of this year.
	
		Table A: Gross Domestic Product per capita () 1979
		
			 Area 1979 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 3,525 
			 England 3,019 
			 Wales 2,517 
			 Scotland 2,802 
			 Northern Ireland 2,334 
		
	
	
		Table B: Gross Value Added per capita () 1997, 2004
		
			 Area 1997 2004 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 12,347 17,258 
			 England 12,324 17,188 
			 Wales 9,822 13,292 
			 Scotland 11,952 16,157 
			 Northern Ireland 9,743 13,482 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Gross Value Added (GVA) is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) less taxes (plus subsidies) on products. Current price data are not adjusted for changes in prices over time.
	2. Gross Domestic Product per head for 1979 is based on data from National Accounts Blue Book 1997. As the regional estimates of GDP and GVA are produced on a different basis, they cannot be used in conjunction to form a time series.

Gershon Review

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Office of Government Commerce spent on consultants in relation to the conduct of the Gershon Review of public sector efficiency.

Des Browne: The Efficiency Review Team, led by Sir Peter Gershon was based in the Cabinet Office from August 2003 to July 2004.
	OGC had no involvement with the running or resources of this team and therefore did not incur any costs.

HM Revenue and Customs

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs is entitled to refuse to give a receipt when requested to do so by a taxpayer submitting a tax return.

Dawn Primarolo: There is no statutory requirement for HM Revenue and Customs to issue receipts and it is not their policy to issue receipts for tax returns handed into their offices.

HM Revenue and Customs

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs is entitled to refuse receipt of a tax return when submitted by an agent acting on behalf of a client.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs would not refuse to receive a tax return submitted by an agent acting on behalf of a client, providing the return was satisfactory (i.e. it has been signed by the taxpayer and all the required supplementary pages are attached).

Income Tax

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many higher rate income tax payers there were in Northern Ireland in (a) 1994 and (b) 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: There were an estimated 34,000 and 50,000 higher rate taxpayers in 199596 and 200405 respectively in Northern Ireland.
	Similar estimates for 199495 can be made available only at a disproportionate cost.
	The information is based upon the Survey of Personal Incomes.
	Considerable caution is needed in interpreting the figures for the two years owing to changes in survey methodology, changes in the sample size over the period and because each figure is subject to sampling variation.

Inheritance Tax

Tim Boswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much potential income from inheritance tax has been foregone on account of bequests to charities in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The cost of relief from inheritance tax on bequests to charities is published in National Statistics Table 10.2. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/charities/10_2_dec05.pdf .

Lisbon Agenda

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Department has oversight of initiatives undertaken at national level as part of the Lisbon Agenda.

John Healey: The Government as a whole takes collective ownership of the Lisbon agenda and individual departments work closely when deciding the initiatives set out in the UK National Reform Programme. HM Treasury agrees and submits the UK's national reform plan.

Part-time Work

Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide fiscal incentives for businesses to encourage them to make well-paid jobs available for part-time workers.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have introduced a range of measures to promote flexible working. Parents of children under six already have the right to request flexible working, and this will be extended to carers from April 2007.
	The Government believe that flexible working, including providing quality part-time jobs, brings returns to business because it opens up a wider pool of skilled labour. It is considering the range of innovative proposals in the Women and Work Commission's report, Shaping a Fairer Future, but at present has no plans to provide fiscal incentives.

PAYE

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the cost of administration for PAYE has been in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the cost of collecting overdue PAYE contributions has been in each of the last three years; and what the mechanism is for doing so.

Dawn Primarolo: The collection of overdue PAYE contributions is not done in isolation but forms part of the wider cost of administering the PAYE and Self Assessment systems. The former Inland Revenue's estimated gross expenditure on these PAYE and SA systems in each of the last three financial years was around:
	
		
			   billion 
		
		
			 200405 1.7 
			 200304 1.6 
			 200203 1.6 
		
	
	The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 provide the detailed rules which govern the operation of the PAYE system. Regulation 21 requires an employer to make deductions from employees' wages and Regulation 69 requires the employer to pay over the amounts deducted to HMRC within 14 days of the end of the relevant income tax month (or 17 days if the payment is made by an approved electronic method). The circumstances of individual cases may vary, but where an employer has failed to make payment HMRC may contact the employer by letter and on the telephone to request payment. HMRC will try to help businesses facing temporary financial difficulties and may agree to give them extra time to pay in certain circumstances. In the continued absence of payment HMRC will take formal enforcement proceedings via the Courts or via distraint action.

Pensions

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2005, Official Report, column 775W, to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond), on pensions, what allowances were made for future improvements in mortality in estimating the total liability for unfunded public sector pension schemes.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 2047W.

Single-parent Households (Wales)

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children in Wales were living in single-parent households in (a) 1979, (b) 1997 and (c) 2005.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 March 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your request for the number of children living in single-parent households in Wales in 1979, 1997 and 2005. (58461)
	The number of children in single parent households is not routinely published but the table below provides estimated numbers and proportions of the number of dependent children in lone-parent families in Wales. Estimates for 1997 and 2005 have been provided from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the sample survey normally used for this purpose. For 1979 such estimates are not readily available, because that was the year the LFS began in its current form, an estimate from the 1981 Census data for Wales has been provided as the closest figures available. The data is in the table below.
	
		Dependent children(27) in lone-parent families(28), Wales
		
			  1981 1997 2005 
		
		
			 Number of dependent children in lone- parent families (Thousand) (29)73.4 144.1 143.1 
			 Proportion of dependent children in lone- parent families (Percentage) 11.1 22.1 22.6 
			 Base: Number of dependent children in all families (Thousand) 659.3 652.2 633.4 
		
	
	(27) Dependent children are defined as children under 16 years of age, or those aged 16 to 18 who are never married and in full-time education.
	(28) A family is defined as a married or cohabiting couple with or without child(ren), or a lone-parent with child(ren).
	(29) The number shown is the number of dependent children living in families in households containing one family. The numbers do not include dependent children living in lone-parent families in households containing two or more families, so will be a slight under-estimation.
	Source:
	(1981) 1981 Census 10 per cent. sample data, (1997 and 2005) Labour Force Survey (LFS), Office for National Statistics. Note that 1997 is an average of LFS spring and autumn quarters, 2005 is from LFS spring quarter only.

Small Businesses

Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Office of Government Commerce has taken to promote public procurement from small businesses.

John Healey: Policy responsibility for supporting the success of small firms sits with the Department of Trade and Industry. OGC provides support where public procurement is being used as a lever to achieve this objective.
	OGC led a successful pilot project between June 2003 and June 2004 concerned with lowering the barriers facing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) wanting to access the Government market. Over 500 SMEs and 17 partner organizations from central and local government were engaged in the project.
	OGC has developed a standard, simplified pre-qualification document specifically for use in small procurements. It has also delivered training for procurers across the country, focusing on the benefits of incorporating SMEs effectively into a diverse supplier base. To date over 800 procurers have been trained.
	OGC has developed guidance on supply chain management and is working with key suppliers and procurers to ensure that opportunities for SMEs are visible and accessible. It has also worked with the Small Business Service to procure a web-based national opportunities portal on which wider public sector procurers can advertise opportunities. The portal is due to go live in spring 2006. Buyers will be able to publicise their lower-value contracts free of charge, and suppliers will have access to a directory of local and lower-value contract notices (also free of charge in their local area), and be able to advertise their services directly to public sector buyers.
	OGC and the Small Business Service have produced 'Smaller Supplier Better Value' to outline the benefits of dealing with small firms, some of the challenges they face, and what public sector procurement staff can do to help.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many calls were categorised as (a) received, (b) handled by and (c) engaged or busy for the tax credits helpline in (i) August and (ii) September; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many telephone calls (a) were received, (b) were handled and (c) received an engaged tone on the tax credits helpline in (i) August and (ii) September; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax credits helpline is open 8 am to 8 pm 362 days a year.
	The following table below gives a month by month breakdown since January 2005:
	
		Thousand
		
			  Received(30) Handled(31) Engaged and busy(32) 
		
		
			 2005
			 January 1,694 1,627 199 
			 February 1,529 1,471 256 
			 March 1,554 1,504 103 
			 April 1,962 1,842 652 
			 May 2,051 1,940 350 
			 June 2,164 2,043 327 
			 July 1,989 1,896 301 
			 August 2,474 2,290 618 
			 September 2,921 2,649 1,315 
			 October 1,668 1,601 181 
			 November 1,588 1,523 130 
			 December 1,306 1,271 65 
			 2006
			 January 1,825 1,771 180 
		
	
	(30) Where the caller selected an option from the call steering menu and was put in a queue to speak to an adviser.
	(31) Where the caller spoke to an adviser.
	(32) Call attempts where the caller was played an engaged tone or busy message, before they were placed in a queue to speak to an adviser

Tax Credits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what data is transferred between the tax credits systems and the PAYE system; and what controls there are over the transfer of data between systems to ensure that the accuracy of data held on both systems is maintained.

Dawn Primarolo: Data are not directly transferred between the tax credits system and the PAYE system. Claimant designatory information such as name and address and information about employments is stored on discrete databases which those systems can access and update in accordance with specific sets of rules.

Tax Credits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what management information can be extracted from the tax credit system about (a) the number of bank accounts used for the receipt of tax credit payments and (b) the country in which the bank account is based.

Dawn Primarolo: The vast majority of claimants have their tax credits paid directly into a bank account, but a precise figure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	HMRC only makes tax credit payments into valid UK bank accounts.

Tax Credits

Lorely Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards reopening the tax credits e-portal; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Lady to my answer of 31 January 2006, Official Report, column 411W, to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley).

Tax Credits

Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of households with at least one member in paid employment qualify for a tax credit; and what the equivalent figures were in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: Based on work carried out on take-up of child tax credit and working tax credit for 200304, and the Family Resources Survey, which provides information on a sample of families (both with and without children) in the UK, approximately 37 per cent. of families in the UK with at least one person working more than 16 hours a week were entitled to tax credits in 200304. Estimates for previous years are not available.
	Tax credit take-up rates for 200304 are published in Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit Take-up Rates: 200304. This publication is available at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/takeup_rates_200304_mar06.pdf.
	For working tax credits HMRC defines in work as working more than 30 hours a week, or more than 16 hours a week for families with children or where at least one of the adults working more than 16 hours a week is disabled.
	Families with dependent children are not required to be in work in order to meet eligibility criteria of child tax credit.

Tax Credits

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in each financial year since its inception how many people the tax credits computer system has recorded as deceased who were still living.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available.

Tax Credits

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on each element of the (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit in each (i) country and (ii) region in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for tax credits were received over the internet in each month from April 2003 to December 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Figures for the number of claims made through the tax credits e-portal is shown in the following table.
	
		Thousand
		
			  2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 January  30 44 
			 February  32 38 
			 March  30 38 
			 April 48 30 47 
			 May 110 47 48 
			 June 81 41 47 
			 July 82 40 39 
			 August 25 40 55 
			 September 29 66 68 
			 October 29 59 71 
			 November 31 54 105 
			 December 18 51 7

Taxes (Migrants)

Michael Gove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how long on average a migrant into the UK has to be resident before they pay back in taxes the amount they have received in welfare.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Immigration and Ctizenship to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow), on 24 October 2005, Official Report, column 42W.
	Migrants are not a homogeneous group and come to the UK for different purposes. Different groups of migrants have different entitlements to benefits and many migrants (e.g. those on work-based schemes) are net fiscal contributors from the outset of their time in the UK.

VAT (Housing)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to reduce the rate of VAT for (a) supply, (b) construction, (c) renovation and (d) alteration of housing to meet the needs of disabled people beyond the adaptation of bathroom or washroom and alteration to facilitate entry into and movement within a building.

Dawn Primarolo: There is provision under EU agreements for certain construction work to be VAT reduced rated. However, to date we have only introduced reduced rates of VAT where we are convinced they offer the best-targeted and most efficient support for our key social objectives, taking into account all costs and benefits.
	All taxes are however kept under review and any changes are made as part of the Budget process.

VAT (Housing)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to harmonise the rate of VAT for new build and refurbished properties.

Dawn Primarolo: While agreements with our European partners allow us to keep our zero rates as they currently stand, we cannot extend them or introduce new ones. This means that in order to harmonise the rates of VAT on all building work and renovation, we would first have to give up our current zero rates for construction, including those for the construction of new charity buildings and new housing, and for approved alterations to listed buildings. While we continue to keep the impact of VAT on different types of building work under review, we have no plans to give up our existing construction zero rates.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Asylum Seekers

Philip Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many occupants of social housing are (a) asylum seekers and (b) failed asylum seekers.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	Asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers are not now generally eligible for social housing provided directly by local authorities. Where accommodation is provided by local authorities it is not known whether this is local authority housing or is leased from the private rented sector.
	Approximately 600 remaining asylum seeker and failed asylum seeker households, under the interim provisions, are accommodated by local authorities on behalf of NASS. Of these cases those who remain eligible will transfer to NASS provided accommodation by the end of May or soon thereafter. A small number of longstanding cases may also remain accommodated by local authorities under statutory homelessness legislation. Local authorities have certain statutory duties to assist asylum seekers under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 and other personal social services legislation. The Home Office does not gather or maintain statistics on these cases.

Demographics in the Local Government Pensions Schemes

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local government pensions schemes (LGPs) were used as the basis for the Hymans Robertson study in the report Demographics in the LGPS published in September 2005.

Phil Woolas: The following local government pension funds were used as the basis for the Hymans Robertson LLP report of September 2005, Local Government Pension Scheme in England and WalesReview of Demographic Patterns:
	LB of Barnet
	Bedfordshire
	Berkshire
	LB of Barking and Dagenham
	Cambridgeshire
	LB of Camden
	Cheshire
	Teesside
	Cornwall
	LB of Enfield
	Environment Agency
	East Riding of Yorkshire
	Gloucestershire
	Greater Manchester
	Gwynedd
	LB of Hackney
	LB of Harrow
	Hertfordshire
	LB of Hillingdon
	LB of Haringey
	Isle of Wight
	RB of Kensington and Chelsea
	Kent
	LB Richmond
	LB Lambeth
	Leicestershire
	Lincolnshire
	London Pensions Fund Authority
	LB of Lewisham
	LB of Newham
	Norfolk
	LB of Redbridge
	Staffordshire
	Suffolk
	Surrey
	LB ofSutton
	LB of Tower Hamlets
	LB Wandsworth
	Wiltshire
	West Sussex

Departmental Assets

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2006 to the hon. Member for Monmouth, Official Report, column 1616W, on departmental assets, to which sections within his Department each of the five stolen official laptops belonged; whether each was stolen on departmental premises; and whether official data on each of the laptops was encrypted.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The sections within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister from whom each of the five laptops were stolen are as follows:
	Local Government Financetwo laptops (April 2005)
	Internal Audit Servicetwo Laptops (January 2005)
	Housing Directorateone laptop (August 2005)
	The two laptops stolen from Local Government Finance were stolen from departmental premises. The other three were stolen from officials' homes.
	The official data on each of the laptops were not encrypted, because none of the information was classified. However, each laptop was password protected.

Departmental Staff

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether any (a) employee of his Department, (b) person engaged by his Department as a consultant and (c) paid adviser to his Department is a member of the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Directly Elected Cabinets

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research the Government have commissioned into directly elected cabinets.

Phil Woolas: None.

Eurozone

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what work (a) was undertaken by his Department between May 1997 and June 2003 and (b) has been undertaken since June 2003 in preparation for UK membership of the Eurozone; at what cost in each case; what future work is envisaged; and at what estimated cost.

Phil Woolas: Since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002, there has been one report undertaken on the preparation of the Office for the Euro. The cost of this report was 31,000. There are no plans for further work to be undertaken.

Fires

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of accidental dwelling fires started by cigarette lighters by children under the age of nine years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Children and young people are particularly vulnerable to death and injury by fire and also cause fire accidentally. In our view the most important task is to educate the family, particularly the very young, about the potential dangers of playing with fire.
	We therefore produce fire safety material for use by fire and rescue services aimed specifically at educating both adults and children and young people. For adults, we convey the message, in written publicity material and in a range of television advertisements, of the need to keep lighters out of the reach of children. For children and young people, we produce storybooks and animated DVDs, targeted at 48 year olds which teach them of the dangers of playing with matches and lighters. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Firekills website also provides key information for older children on a range of fire safety messages.
	We have also made available 11.4 million grant funding for fire and rescue authorities in England over the two year period to March 2008 to support fire prevention work, including community fire safety, arson reduction and work with children and young people.

Inspection Regimes

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to West Sussex County Council was of inspection regimes instigated by his Department in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for the sponsorship of the Audit Commission, which undertakes inspection of local services. There are no agreed or reliable figures to calculate the indirect costs of inspection to local government.
	The ODPM is, however, committed to ensuring that inspection is co-ordinated and proportionate and responsive to the improvement priorities of each council. The ODPM is working across Government to significantly change the inspection landscape and significantly reduce the cost and amount of inspection carried out.

Lancashire Fire Authority

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) full-time and (b) retained fire-fighters have been (i) employed and (ii) taken early retirement in Lancashire Fire Authority in each year since 199697.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of firelighters in Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service that have (i) been employed in each year since 199697 and (ii) taken ill-health retirement since 199899 is presented in the table; information on ill-health retirement for individual fire and rescue services prior to 199899 is not held centrally.
	
		Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
		
			  Number employed(33) Number of ill health retirements 
			  Wholetime Retained duty system Wholetime Retained duty system 
		
		
			 199697 971 390 (34) (34) 
			 199798 979 395 (34) (34) 
			 199899 1,007 402 12 4 
			 199900 1,008 398 17 0 
			 200001 1,010 371 9 2 
			 200102 1,002 357 14 2 
			 200203 1,008 369 9 2 
			 200304 990 384 5 0 
			 200405(35) 957 402 2 0 
		
	
	(33) The figures provided refer to the workforce at 31 March each year..
	(34) Information not held centrally
	(35) Figures are provisional
	Source:
	ODPM annual returns

Local Government Pension Scheme

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the organisations and individuals who responded to the consultation on the draft regulations concerning the local government pension scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The statutory consultation exercise on the draft Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 2005 ended on 28 February. Approximately 700 responses have been received. These are being carefully considered before any decisions are taken on the scope of the final regulations. A summary of the responses received will be made available on the Office Deputy Prime Minister's LGPS website at: www.xoq83.dial.pipex.com in due course.

National Land and Property Gazetteer

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what information the National Land and Property Gazetteer holds on domestic properties;
	(2)  how the National Land and Property Gazetteer (a) was compiled and (b) is updated.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister supports the effective use of address based information, however, as the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) is an Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) product, it is not for ODPM to comment on its content or specification.

Planning

David Evennett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received on planning applications for telecommunications equipment.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister receives many representations on matters relating to the telecommunications industry. The information about such representations is not readily available in the breakdown requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

School Playing Fields

Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many school playing fields are owned by his Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not own any school playing fields.

DEFENCE

Accommodation

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) single living and (b) family accommodation in (i) the UK and (ii) overseas is at (A) standard 1, (B) standard 2, (C) standard 3 and (D) standard 4 for condition.

Don Touhig: This information is not held centrally but is being compiled from a number of sources. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the material is available, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the British armed forces have been (a) injured and (b) killed in Afghanistan since the start of the conflict.

Adam Ingram: Two members of the United Kingdom armed forces have been killed by hostile action in Afghanistan since the start of the conflict. I refer my hon. Friend to the previous answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence of 1 February 2006, Official Report, column 506W, and my answer of 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 20W, with respect to the number of UK forces who have been injured in Afghanistan during that time.

Argentina

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Argentine counterpart regarding that country's recent naval and air incursions into British airspace and territorial waters.

John Reid: There have been no recent Argentine naval or air incursions into British airspace or territorial waters.

Boards of Inquiry

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) of 1 February 2006, Official Report, column 506W, on boards of inquiry, whether there are circumstances in which families are allowed to bring legal representatives to a board of inquiry.

Don Touhig: holding answer 13 March 2006
	The purpose of a board of inquiry is to investigate a matter and to report. Its role is different from that of an inquest into a fatality and legal representation is not normally appropriate. However, in exceptional circumstances, legal representation is allowed at a board of inquiryfor example, where a family member is invited to attend as a witness.

Budget

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the defence budget has been allocated to the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy in each of the last seven years.

Adam Ingram: The defence budget is not broken down by individual service, but by Top Level Budget (TLB) holders. These broadly equate to: Commander-in-Chief, Fleet and Second Sea Lord/Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command in the Royal Navy; Commander-in-Chief, Land Command, Adjutant-General (Personnel and Training Command) and General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) in the Army; Commander-in-Chief, Strike Command and Commander-in-Chief, Personnel and Training Command in the Royal Air Force. Full details of the defence budget, and its division between all TLB holders can be found in the Main and Supplementary Estimates and the Annual Report and Accounts since 200203 and the Defence Resource Accounts since 19992000, for each year, which are in the Library of the House.

Correspondence

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the letter from the right hon. Member the Minister of State for Defence (Mr. Ingram) to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell) of 2 March 2006, whether each of the planes listed (a) was a US state aircraft for the purposes of the Chicago Convention on Civil Aviation 1944 and (b) had requested and obtained permission to land from UK authorities.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Counter-insurgency

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what means lessons learned in counter-insurgency techniques during past deployments in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan are being collated and disseminated for use in future deployments.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 March 2006
	Ministry of Defence has a comprehensive mechanism for capturing strategic and operational lessons that has already identified counter-insurgency lessons from operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lessons are identified by the chain of command and during formal theatre visits conducted by the Directorate of Operational Capability. This process includes interviews with key Commanders and staffs, the units involved, engagement with Coalition partners and analysis of publicly available information. Lessons identified are then collated into reports, which are considered by Chiefs of Staff before remedial action is taken as appropriate. These lesson reports are retained and used extensively to inform the planning and conduct of future operations.

Death Squads (Basra)

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of assassinations conducted by death squads in Basra since the beginning of 2006.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 March 2006
	In recording crime, the Iraqi police service do not attribute killings to Death Squads, though as part of their investigations, they are likely to make an assessment of the likely motive for the crime.

Defence Export Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2006, Official Report, column 1579W, on Defence Export Services, when he expects to begin the process of finding a successor to Alan Garwood as head of Defence Export Services.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's written answer of 13 February 2006, Official Report, column 1578W. In line with normal practice for the external recruitment of a senior official, we expect to start the process between six and nine months ahead of the date when we need the position to be filled.

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the relocation of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 10 March 2006
	The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is currently consolidating its activities onto three core sites in accordance with the published site rationalisation plan. Over the next few years this will involve the movement of 1,300 individuals from Farnborough, Malvern, Alverstoke, Winfrith and Portsdown West to Porton Down, Portsdown West and Fort Halstead.
	In August 2005 Dstl announced the appointment of Serco as the preferred bidder to partner Dstl through this major relocation programme. This contract is expected to be signed shortly.

Iraq

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it remains his policy that no timetable for the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq should be indicated in advance of the completion of their mission.

John Reid: UK force levels in Iraq will be determined by conditions on the ground and not by any timetable. The conditions for handover of security responsibilities centre on four areas: threat level; the capability of the Iraqi security forces; governance capability; and the ability of the coalition to provide necessary support to the Iraqi security forces.

Job Relocation (Wales)

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs in his Department have been relocated to Wales since 2001.

Adam Ingram: Details of the number of departmental civil service jobs relocated to Wales are not available, as this information is not held centrally by the Ministry of Defence, and obtaining the data would incur disproportionate costs.

Lancastria Bombing (1940)

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether his Department has considered designation of the resting place of the vessel Lancastria sunk on 17 June 1940 as a maritime war grave; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to use the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 to lay a statutory instrument before the House confirming the merchant vessel Lancastria as a maritime war grave.

Don Touhig: The legal mechanism for such designations is the United Kingdom's Protection of Military Remains Act (PMRA) 1986. The Act has been used in previous cases where candidate wrecks lay in United Kingdom or international waters and consideration has indeed been given to its use in the case of the Lancastria. However, as the ship's remains lie in French territorial waters, use of PMRA 1986 is not a realistic option. We are therefore consulting the French authorities about the wreck to determine how best to take matters forward.

Land Rents

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much income was derived per hectare from the rent of military land on Salisbury Plain in each of the past three years; and what assessment he has made of the rents payable for similar land in the private sector in the Salisbury area.

Don Touhig: Average figures for the income per hectare derived from the rent of military land on Salisbury Plain for the previous three years are given in the table. The actual rents range from 1 per hectare for certain areas of winter grazing, to 210 for smaller areas of much higher quality arable land. Rents for farm buildings, farmhouse and farm cottages are also included.
	
		
			  Per hectare () 
		
		
			 200304 42.04 
			 200405 42.44 
			 200506 39.67 
		
	
	The rents negotiated with tenants of Salisbury Plain take into account the particular circumstances of each holding, and reflect what the market will bear on a case by case basis. Thus no assessment of rents payable for similar land in the private sector in the Salisbury area is required.

Overseas Duty

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) regular and (b) reserve medical personnel are deployed on overseas duty.

Don Touhig: The following table shows the number of UK regular and reserve medical personnel deployed overseas on operational and non-operational duty:
	
		
			  Regular Reserve 
			 Service Operational Non-operational Operational Non-operational 
		
		
			 Royal Navy 290 57 0 0 
			 Army 460 710 30 13 
			 RAF 64 86 0 0 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures above 100 have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	DMSD.

Private Offices

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of his private office was in the last year for which figures are available.

John Reid: The total cost to the Defence Budget in the Financial Year 200405 for my Private Office was approximately 1.1 million.

QinetiQ

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts were given to QinetiQ by his Department (a) with and (b) without competitive tendering in (i) 200203, (ii) 200304 and (iii) 200405; and what the value of the contract was in each case.

John Reid: The information held by the Department on contracts awarded to QinetiQ does not provide the information necessary to answer this question. The additional information required could only be collected at disproportionate cost. We can identify, however, the total number of contracts and value of those contracts awarded to QinetiQ in those years as follows:
	
		
			  Contracts  million 
		
		
			 200203 1,400 (36)4,945 
			 200304 1,145 356 
			 200405 987 341 
		
	
	(36) Figures for 200203 include the Long Term Partnering Agreement awarded in 200203 but valued at 3,970million over 25 years from 20034 onwards.
	Some of these contracts span more than one year, and therefore their value does
	not correspond to revenue paid by MOD to QinetiQ in any one year.

Research and Technology Budget

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been allocated to the research and technology budget by his Department in each year since 1997.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence expenditure on research and on development, both combined and separately, is published regularly in 'UK Defence Statistics', copies of which are held in the Library of the House. The latest figures available are to be found in table 1.7 of Chapter 1 of 'UK Defence Statistics 2005'.

SA80 2 Rifle

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the SA80 2 assault rifle in comparison with the AK47.

Adam Ingram: Due to significant differences between United Kingdom and former Soviet Union (and Russian) doctrine, the AK47 would be unsuitable for UK service. Therefore no full, trials-based comparison between the UK's standard in service rifle, the SA80 A2, and the AK47 has been made. However, based on the available evidence, our assessment is that the AK47 is far less accurate and has a significantly shorter effective range than the SA80 A2, while, when properly maintained, both weapons are very reliable.

St. Helena

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for changing the size of the United Kingdom's military presence in St. Helena and the surrounding islands.

Adam Ingram: There is no United Kingdom military presence on St. Helena or her dependency Tristan da Cunha. We have a small RAF unit on Ascension Island to support the operation of the airfield; there are plans to reduce the number of military posts there through contractorisation and amalgamation, but without loss of capability.

St. Helena

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign military (a) ships and (b) aircraft have visited St. Helena in each of the last seven years.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no airport on St. Helena. The following numbers of foreign military ships have visited St. Helena in each of the last seven years:
	
		
			  Vessels 
		
		
			 2005 4 
			 2004 2 
			 2003 1 
			 2002 2 
			 2001 2 
			 2000 3 
			 1999 (37) 
		
	
	(37) No recorded visits

Warships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason one Type 23 frigate has been selected not to receive Sonar 2087.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 March 2006
	There is an operational requirement for eight of the thirteen in-service Type 23 frigates to be modified to operate the Sonar 2087 system. The remaining five frigates will retain their existing Sonar 2031 system. The decision on which ships are to be modified is determined by the fitting opportunities within the frigate upkeep programme.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Citybus/Metro

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many passenger journeys have been made on Citybus/Metro in the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Translink collect passenger journey data on a financial year basis. The following table provides the number of passenger journeys on Citybus/Metro for the last five years up to March 2005.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 200001 20,250,442 
			 200102 20,196,765 
			 200203 19,876,922 
			 200304 19,493,377 
			 200405 19,873,218

Concessionary Fares

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the review of the Concessionary Fares Scheme to commence; what format he expects the review to take; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The Accessible Transport Strategy for Northern Ireland 2015, which was launched in April 2005, included a commitment by the Department for Regional Development (the Department) to review the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme (the Scheme) within two years. Officials within the Department for Regional Development are currently finalising the structure and scope of this review. Until this work is complete, I am unable to confirm exactly when the review will commence or precisely what format it will take. However, it is likely that the review will consider such aspects of the Scheme as the categories eligible for concessionary travel, the level of concessions available and the types of transport on which concessionary travel is available.

Decommissioning Commission

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the annual cost has been of the Independent International Commission for Decommissioning since it was set up.

Shaun Woodward: The IICD's running costs are shared equally between the British and Irish Governments. The total cost to date is 8,381,956, with the British Government contributing 4,190,978.
	The annual cost of the IICD to the British Government are laid out in the following table:
	
		IICD costs since inception
		
			   
		
		
			 Cash accounting  
			 199798 428,256 
			 199899 534,835 
			 19992000 603,600 
			 200001 701,814 
			 200102 677,973 
			 200203 309,600 
			 Accruals accounting  
			 200304 276,729 
			 200405 375,878 
			 200506(38) 282,293 
			 Total 4,190,978 
		
	
	(38) Up to and including February 2006.

Foster Green Hospital

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what respite services are currently provided at the neurology unit at Foster Green Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the future of the unit.

Shaun Woodward: The respite service for neurology patients at Forster Green Hospital currently has 13 beds available for rehabilitation and respite care.
	Following public consultation, the Eastern Health and Social Services Board has proposed that the neurology respite service should be transferred from Forster Green Hospital to temporary accommodation at Musgrave Park Hospital in 2007. Green Park Healthcare Trust is currently working on a business case for a purpose-built facility to maintain the service on the site of Musgrave Park Hospital.

Independent Monitoring Commission

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what definition the Independent Monitoring Commission uses of criminal activity at an organisational level.

Shaun Woodward: The Independent Monitoring Commission is an independent organisation, so queries of this nature should be referred directly to them.

Licensing

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what meetings (a) the Minister for Social Development and (b) officials from the Department for Social Development have had on liquor licensing in the past 12 months; if he will list the participants; and if he will place the minutes in the Library.

David Hanson: A table detailing the meetings which (a) I as Minister for Social Development and (b) officials from the Department for Social Development have had on reform of liquor licensing in the past 12 months, together with details of participating organisations, has been placed in the Library. It would not be appropriate to release minutes of those meetings, and that the information they contain is exempt from disclosure under section 35 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as it relates to the formulation of Government policy.

Licensing

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the removal of the surrender requirement in respect of liquor licensing on (a) the homeless, (b) refugees, (c) asylum seekers, (d) ethnic minorities, (e) sex workers, (f) ex-offenders, (g) older people dependent on alcohol or drugs, (h) people with mental health problems and (i) vulnerable young people, with particular reference to (i) looked-after children, (ii) young offenders, (iii) the young homeless, (iv) young people excluded from schools and (v) children with alcohol or drug using parents;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the removal of the surrender requirement in respect of liquor licensing on (a) antisocial behaviour and (b) under-age drinking; what research he has commissioned on this subject; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Research on the possible impact of the Government's proposals to reform liquor licensing in Northern Ireland was carried out via an Omnibus Survey of some 1,000 households and a review of literature in the UK and further a field. This included the topics of antisocial behaviour and under-age drinking. The proposals were drawn up in conjunction with a steering group including officials from the Department for Social Development, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Northern Ireland Office and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. A consultation paper was published on 1 November 2005 and circulated to a wide range of organisations. A list of these organisations was placed in the Library. I will carefully consider responses to the consultation exercise before announcing my proposals for legislation.
	No specific research was carried out in respect of the potential impact of the removal of the surrender requirement in respect of liquor licensing on the groups listed.

Osteoporosis

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 378W, on osteoporosis, how much has been spent on osteoporosis in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; which are the most common forms of intervention used in Northern Ireland; what assessment he has made of their effectiveness; how many people are waiting to be treated for osteoporosis in Northern Ireland; and whether all interventions available in England are not available in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The amount spent on osteoporosis in each of the last ten years is not known; the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is included as part of the work of a wide range of health and social services professionals and it is not possible to distinguish separately the amount spent by them on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
	The forms of intervention used in connection with osteoporosis depend on a number of factors, including whether the intervention is to prevent or treat osteoporosis, the risk factors involved, the age and gender of the individual patient, the propensity to fracture and the extent of co-existing disease. Typical interventions include case finding approaches, lifestyle advice, prevention of falls and the use of medicines both to treat osteoporosis or to prevent it, especially for those people at risk of fracture or who have multiple risk factors.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has made no specific assessment of the multiple interventions which can be used to prevent and/or treat osteoporosis. However, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Effectiveness (NICE) has produced guidance on certain drugs and is currently assessing other drug treatments for both primary and secondary prevention of osteoporosis. NICE also intends to produce a comprehensive clinical guideline on the assessment of fracture risk and the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in individuals at high risk. My Department is currently putting in place arrangements to link with NICE, and will conduct a local process to determine applicability of NICE guidance to Northern Ireland. It is intended that future assessments of the clinical and cost effectiveness of interventions, once published by NICE, will be part of this process. In this context, the Department will then consider whether there is a need to revise the previously published local guidance produced by the Clinical Resource Efficiency Support Team (CREST) in 2001 on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
	The number of people waiting to be treated for osteoporosis is not known. Official waiting list statistics are collected at specialty level and it is not possible to identify from these figures how many patients are waiting to be treated for a specific condition such as osteoporosis.
	Finally, the Department does not hold details of the availability of interventions for osteoporosis in England. Within Northern Ireland, the specialist drug teriparatide, which is licensed for use in the treatment of established osteoporosis in post-menopausal women, is not currently funded by Health and Social Services Boards due to competing pressures for funding. I shall be announcing shortly details of additional funding for specialist drugs in 200607 and 200708 and I would expect Boards to utilise a proportion of this funding to introduce new specialist drugs such as teriparatide.

Police Ombudsman

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Police Ombudsman investigates complaints of (a) criminal and (b) disciplinary wrongdoing by MI5 officers in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: No. Complaints of alleged criminal wrongdoing by Security Service personnel whether in NI or GB are a matter for the police. The Security Service has disciplinary procedures in place that aim to ensure that all members of staff achieve and maintain appropriate standards of conduct and to provide a clear and fair framework for dealing with alleged failures to observe such standards.

Regeneration

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been allocated through the Local Community Fund to encourage regeneration in pockets of deprivation in Northern Ireland for 200607, broken down by area.

David Hanson: The Local Community Fund Programme started in 2003 and is due to end on 31 March 2006. The Department for Social Development is currently considering options on the future delivery of the fund; therefore no funding allocations have been made for 200607.
	The following tables set out the allocation to the relevant targeted areas for 200506.
	
		LCF Allocations 200506 by District Council Area -- Ards
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Bowtown Estate 52,340 
			 Total 52,340 
		
	
	
		Belfast
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Lower Shankill 61,920 
			 Brown Square 6,990 
			 Pottinger (Inner East) including Avoniel, The Mount, Willowfield and Ravenhill 456,240 
			 Clonard 89,810 
			 Beechmount/Cavendish 89,000 
			 Village 152,310 
			 Glencairn 93,210 
			 Highfield 55,780 
			 Finaghy 71,115 
			 Total 1,076,375 
		
	
	
		Carrickfergus
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Sunny lands 79,495 
			 Greenisland/Gortalee 92,555 
			 Total 172,050 
		
	
	
		Castlereagh
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Tullycarnet 69,260 
			 Total 69,260 
		
	
	
		Coleraine
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Ballysally 73,935 
			 The Heights 50,640 
			 Total 124,575 
		
	
	
		Cookstown
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Stewartstown 42,530 
			 Total 42,530 
		
	
	
		Craigavon
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Parkmore 19,315 
			 Total 19,315 
		
	
	
		Derry
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Foylehill/Creggan 39,250 
			 Top of Hill /Gobnascale 47,900 
			 Shantallow 108,430 
			 Glen Estate 38,360 
			 Curryneirin and Tullally 60,380 
			 Clooney 43,420 
			 Irish Street 27,620 
			 Lettershandoney 21,900 
			 Ballymagroaty/Hazel bank 131,145 
			 Total 518,405 
		
	
	
		Down
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Model Farm Estate 25,960 
			 Flying Horse Estate 28,200 
			 Newcastle 64,430 
			 Total 118,590 
		
	
	
		Dungannon
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Ballysaggart 106,110 
			 Total 106,110 
		
	
	
		Larne
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Riverdale 22,370 
			 Total 22,370 
		
	
	
		Limavady
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Glen Estate  Hospital Lane 63,120 
			 Total 63,120 
		
	
	
		Moyle
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Ballycastle Town 39,090 
			 Total 39,090 
		
	
	
		Newry and Mourne
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Carnagat 5,950 
			 Newtownhamilton Village 15,450 
			 Derrybeg 27,080 
			 Total 48,480 
		
	
	
		Newtownabbey
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Glengormley-Queen's Park/Glenvarna 60,915 
			 Total 60,915 
		
	
	
		North Down
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Rathgill 36,620 
			 Harbour Ward 92,555 
			 Total 129,175 
		
	
	
		Omagh
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Carrickmore 29,860 
			 Fintona 37,700 
			 Total 67,560 
		
	
	
		Strabane
		
			 Area Allocation () 
		
		
			 Glenderg Ward 95,530 
			 Lisnafin 59,370 
			 Ballycolman 114,840 
			 Total 269,740

Roads

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what total length of each grade of road the Department for Regional Development (DRD) Road Service is responsible, broken down by district council area; and how much (a) was spent in 200405, (b) is expected to be spent in 200506 and (c) is budgeted to be spent in 200607 by DRD Road Service on roads maintenance.

Shaun Woodward: The chief executive of Roads Service Dr. Malcolm McKibbin has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 14 March 2006
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding what total length of each grade of road the Department for Regional Development (DRD) Road Service is responsible, broken down by district council area; and how much (a) was spent by DRD Road Service on roads maintenance in 200405, (b) is expected to be spent in 200506 and (c) is budgeted to be spent in 200607.
	I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	Information on the length and class of roads can be found in Chapter 3 of a joint annual Department for Regional Development and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency publication entitled Northern Ireland Transport Statistics. The latest edition for 20042005 can be viewed or downloaded from http: //www. drdni. gov.uk/DRDwww_Statistics/details. asp?publication_id=158.
	With regard to the maintenance expenditure figures you requested, I can advise that expenditure on roads maintenance for 200405 was 121 million. The current estimated expenditure on roads maintenance for 200506 will be in the region of 116 million. The current estimated roads maintenance budget for 200607 is in the region of 91 million.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Temozolomide

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients in each health board area in Northern Ireland are receiving the drug temozolomide via (a) the NHS and (b) private treatment.

Shaun Woodward: The information is as follows:
	(a) During the period April 2005 to February 2006 the drug Temozolomide was dispensed for a total of 28 patients in Northern Ireland.
	
		
			 Health Board of Residence Number who received Temozolomide 
		
		
			 Eastern Health and Social Services Board 14 
			 Northern Health and Social Services Board 1 
			 Southern Health and Social Services Board 5 
			 Western Health and Social Services Board 8 
		
	
	(b) Information on the number of patients who received temozolomide via private treatment is not available.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Asylum Seekers

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made towards recruiting additional specialist asylum judges to adjudicate the backlog of appeals by asylum-seekers; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) is recruiting an additional 210 fee paid Immigration Judges nationally, around 100 of whom will be new appointments with the remaining positions being filled by Immigration Judges who currently have fixed term non-renewable contracts within the Tribunal. It is anticipated that the appointments will be completed by mid June for London vacancies and the end of September for vacancies in the regions.
	There is currently no backlog of asylum appeals at the AIT. However, between April and September 2005 the AIT accrued a backlog of entry clearance and family visitor appeals due to higher volumes of receipts, particularly family visitor appeals, than anticipated. These appeals were processed by the end of December 2005 and now form part of the Tribunal's work in progress. They are currently awaiting appeal bundles from the relevant entry clearance posts and will be heard throughout the remainder of this calendar year. Planning for the clearance of these appeals was not contingent upon the appointments of additional Immigration Judges from the current competitions.

Crown Courts

Robert Key: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many Crown court sentences have been mitigated on appeal in each calendar year between 2000 and 2005.

Harriet Harman: The following table shows the number of appellants per calendar year whose appeal against their Crown court sentence was allowed on appeal.
	
		
			  Number of sentence appeals allowed(39) 
		
		
			 2000 1,284 
			 2001 1,101 
			 2002 1,302 
			 2003 1,685 
			 2004 1,348 
			 2005 1,534 
		
	
	(39) Includes appeals which were allowed in whole or in part.

Departmental Procedures

John Hemming: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if her Department will take steps to ensure that a photocopy of marked registers is kept locally for each constituency before the original is taken to storage.

Harriet Harman: The Electoral Administration Bill will provide that at future parliamentary elections, it will be the responsibility of electoral registration officers to store and supply copies of the marked registers, locally. This is already the case for the local elections.

Electoral Reform

James Duddridge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential impact on (a) voter turnout and (b) the incidence of postal voting of voters being able to cast their votes in any polling station in (i) the constituency in which they reside, (ii) the country in which they reside and (iii) the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: No formal assessment has been made in the terms outlined by the honourable member. It is not currently legally possible for voters to vote from any polling station on election day, although we are supporting pilots of early voting from different locations in the May 2006 local elections. The evaluation of these pilots by the Electoral Commission will provide some learning on the effect of increased flexibility in time and location of voting.
	Some of the pilots currently being conducted rely on information technology solutions. It is the Government's expectation that if voting from any location were to be explored for future use, the most secure and efficient way to deliver this would be through information technology solutions.

Electoral Reform

James Duddridge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans her Department have to enable voters with disabilities or other access problems to apply to the Returning Officer for permission to vote at an alternative polling station; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Government have no plans to introduce voting at alternative polling stations for any electors, including those with disabilities. However, the Electoral Administration Bill contains measure to improve access to polling stations for disabled people. It includes a duty on local authorities to undertake a review of polling places at least every four years to ensure that, as far as possible, polling stations are both convenient and accessible to the local community.
	Voters with disabilities can apply for a postal or proxy vote. At a general election, they can return their postal vote to any polling station within their constituency, or any polling station within their ward at local elections, should they wish to do so.

Judicial Appointments (Northern Ireland)

William McCrea: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the judicial appointments made in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Bridget Prentice: In the 12 month period March 2005 to February 2006 seven judicial appointments were made in Northern Ireland as follows:
	One County Court Judge
	Two full time Resident Magistrates
	Two part time Resident Magistrates
	Two High Court Masters.
	There were also 25 tribunal appointments and 272 Lay Magistrate appointments during this period.

London Allowance

Kate Hoey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans her Department have to change the London allowance of its staff; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The majority of staff subject to DCA terms and conditions and based in London do not receive a London Allowance/London Weighting in addition to their basic salaries. The former London Weighting allowances were consolidated into basic salaries in 1998 and as a result we now have higher basic salaries for staff in London. This reflects the local employment market with separate scales for inner and outer London.
	In addition there are approximately 400 staff, in the South East who receive a Local Pay Addition that relates specifically to their location and grade. These allowances were introduced in 1989 as a market supplement to address high turnover in particular locations and is being phased out. Payments under this scheme are lost when staff move to non-qualifying posts.
	There is a DCA Pay and Grading Project currently underway looking at all matters relating to pay and allowances. Subject to the project recommendations new pay, grading and benefit arrangements should be introduced later this year.

Parliamentary Constituencies

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the adult population to registered electorate ratio for the proposed new parliamentary constituency boundaries in England; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: From the 2001 census figures we can calculate the adult population of England to be 37,997,691 and the Office for National Statistics calculated the registered electorate in England to be 37,151,991 in December 2005. The Government cannot comment on the proposed new parliamentary constituency boundaries in England prior to receiving the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England's final report.

Postal Voting

Mark Hunter: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the minimum number of days is before polling day that returning officers are obliged to send postal votes to electors who have registered for such ballot papers.

Harriet Harman: There is no statutory latest day for sending out postal ballot packs to electors. Returning Officers cannot send out postal votes to electors until the deadline for electors to apply for postal votes has passed, as postal or proxy voters may until 11 working days before polling day switch from one such absent voting preference to another (or cancel their absent voting request altogether), but they will aim to do so as soon as possible after that deadline.

Postal Voting

Mark Hunter: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps her Department is taking to publicise (a) the rules governing and (b) the deadlines applying to the use of postal voting at the forthcoming local elections.

Harriet Harman: Electoral administrators appointed by local authorities for the purpose are responsible in law for the conduct of elections, including dissemination of information about postal voting procedures. The independent Electoral Commission has among its statutory responsibilities a duty to promote public awareness of current systems of local government in the United Kingdom and the Commission is running a public information campaign for the forthcoming local elections with a helpline and website where information on the rules governing, and the deadlines applying to, the use of postal voting is available. In addition the Commission has also produced a leaflet, which sets out the rules governing postal voting.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of Pathways to Work pilots on demand for support from the Access to Work scheme in those areas; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Information on the additional demand for Access to Work in Pathways areas is not collected separately.

Benefits

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receive pensions and benefits through (a) Post Office card accounts and (b) basic bank accounts in the South West Bedfordshire constituency.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 6 March 2006
	The information is not available in the format requested.
	At 24 December 2005, 4,200 pension and benefit accounts were being paid into a Post Office card account and 22,700 were being paid into a bank or building society account in the South West Bedfordshire constituency. These figures do not include Post Office card accounts used by other Government Departments to pay benefits and tax credits.
	Notes
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	2. Figures refer to benefit and pension payment accounts live and in payment on the specified date. People in receipt of more than one benefit/pension have been counted for each separate benefit/pension in payment. People who have their benefit/pension combined and paid at the same time have only been counted through the paying benefit.

Benefits

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Green Paper A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work, what assessment he has made of the merits of proposing that the maximum time between an initial claim for employment and support allowance and the first employability and capability assessment should be lower than 12 weeks.

Margaret Hodge: In the Green Paper; A new deal for welfare: empowering people to work, we have proposed that the assessment phase should last three months. During this time the revised personal capability assessment process will determine both eligibility for benefit and capability for work. Assessing an individual at a relatively early stage of their claim allows us to maximise their chances of returning to work. However, many people will be on employment and support allowance for very short periods of time and so carrying out assessments too early in a claim could lead to nugatory assessments taking place.

Benefits

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department's 2005 target for the direct payment of benefits was met.

James Plaskitt: Yesin December 2004.

Child Support Agency (Private Debt Collectors)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many private debt collectors have been used by the Child Support Agency in each year since 199697; how much they collected in maintenance arrears; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 30 January 2006
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many private debt collectors have been used by the Child Support Agency in each year since 199697; how much they collected in maintenance arrears; and if he will make a statement.
	Non-resident parents have a financial obligation to support their children. The Child Support Agency currently receives over 585 million maintenance per year however there is still a culture surrounding its activities whereby some non-resident parents perceive it as acceptable not to comply with the Agency and make their maintenance payments. The Agency has therefore begun to take steps to tackle this issue.
	When undertaking civil recovery processes to recover arrears of child support maintenance the Agency will first obtain a Liability Order to have the debt legally recognised. Thereafter a variety of civil recovery processes will be employed to secure the debt. Under Child Support Legislation, (Child Support Act 1991 Regulation 35 and Collection and Enforcement Regulations 1992 Regulation 30) the Agency is empowered to utilise private firms of Bailiffs to levy distress.
	Over the period 1996 to 2000 the Agency had contracted one private firm of Bailiffs to undertake distress action throughout England and Wales. From May 2001 contracts were let to three private firms of Bailiffs, each with responsibility for distress action in specific geographical areas. These contracts are up for renewal in spring 2006.
	Exact Bailiff collections information is not available for the period up until April 2004 as prior to this any collections were added into the overall Agency collections figures.
	The table shows the Bailiff collections for 200405 onwards.
	
		
			  Bailiff Collections ( million) 
		
		
			 April 2004 to March 2005 3.1 
			 April to December 2005. (Year to date) 3.2 
		
	
	Similarly, in Scotland, legislation (Child Support Act 1991 Regulation 37, the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 and the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 enables the recovery of debt by use of diligences undertaken by private firms of Sheriff Officers. As officers of the court, Sheriff Officers are instructed by the Agency to carry out diligences within their respective Sheriffdoms. The Agency does not have any contracts with private firms of Sheriff Officers in Scotland.
	No information is held in relation to debt collected by Sheriff Officers as, unless immediate payment is forthcoming, non-resident parents are instructed to make payments direct to the Agency and as mentioned previously these payments will be included in Agency collections figures.
	Since August 2005 the Agency has also been involved in a small scale pilot using two private debt collection companies to assess the feasibility of involving the private sector to recover Agency debt.
	In Secretary of State's statement to the House on 9 February 2006, he announced that he was making available a further 30 million to contract out some of the Child Support Agency's debt recovery. We expect that to result in a substantially increased recovery of the current debt owed to parents with care.
	I hope you find this information helpful.

Correspondence

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 13 February 2006 to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Official Report, columns 169091W, on post office card accounts, when the three pilot schemes will be completed; and what plans he has to increase the number of people covered by these schemes.

James Plaskitt: The pilots began on 13 February 2006 and will be concluded by mid-March. When they are completed we will evaluate the results and discuss the findings with the Post Office and other key stakeholders. I have no plans to increase the number of customers covered.

Departmental Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters were received by (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) 200506 to date; and how many and what proportion of these letters were (i) answered within (A) 10, (B) 20, (C) 30 and (D) 40 working days, (ii) answered after 40 working days and (iii) not answered.

James Plaskitt: The Department's correspondence targets are:
	To respond to letters from MPs/peers to Ministers within 20 working days.
	To respond to letters from members of the public to Ministers within 20 working days
	To respond to letters from MPs/peers sent directly to agency chief executives on operational issues within 15 working days.
	The information that is available on letters received and replied to is shown in the following tables.
	
		Table 1: Receipt and response times of MPs letters to Ministers in calendar years
		
			   Number of letters replied to during the year 
			  Received during the year Replies Within 20 days Percentage within 20 days 21 to 40 days Percentage within 21 to 40 days Over 40 days Percentage over 40 days 
		
		
			 2003 
			 DWP 12,157 12,031 8,931 74 2,696 22 404 3 
			 Child Support Agency 240 227 199 88 27 12 1 0 
			 Jobcentre Plus 977 866 736 85 116 13 14 2 
			 The Appeals Service 13 13 13 100 0 0 0 0 
			 The Pension Service 777 754 400 53 305 40 49 6 
			  
			 2004 
			 DWP 13,320 13,463 11,536 86 1,497 11 430 3 
			 Child Support Agency 491 482 445 92 30 6 7 1 
			 Jobcentre Plus 879 943 880 93 58 6 5 1 
			 The Appeals Service 37 36 32 89 2 6 2 6 
			 The Pension Service 958 970 914 94 53 5 3 0 
			 Disability and Carers Service 78 60 60 100 0 0 0 0 
			 The Rent Service 6 6 2 33 4 67 0 0 
			 2005 
			 DWP 10,596 10,639 9,623 90 785 7 231 2 
			 Child Support Agency 572 560 556 99 4 1 0 0 
			 Jobcentre Plus 1,137 1,224 1,127 92 95 8 2 0 
			 The Appeals Service 32 30 30 100 0 0 0 0 
			 The Pension Service 701 683 669 98 13 2 1 0 
			 Disability and Carers Service 454 445 445 100 0 0 0 0 
			 The Rent Service 5 5 5 100 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Receipt and response times of members of the public's letters to Ministers in calendar years
		
			   Number of letters replied to during the year 
			  Received during the year Replies Within 20 days Percentage within 20 days 21 to 40 days Percentage within 21 to 40 days Over 40 days Percentage over 40 days 
		
		
			 2003 
			 DWP 17,289 16,479 13,583 82 1,487 9 1,409 9 
			 Child Support Agency 1,126 981 840 86 93 9 48 5 
			 Jobcentre Plus 3,447 2,413 395 16 475 20 1,543 64 
			 The Appeals Service 20 19 17 89 1 5 1 5 
			 The Pension Service 71 69 55 80 4 6 10 14 
			 Disability and Carers Service 671 682 634 93 33 5 15 2 
			  
			 2004 
			 DWP 19,371 18,671 16,904 90 233 1 1,534 8 
			 Child Support Agency 1,183 972 743 76 157 16 72 7 
			 Jobcentre Plus 5,176 4,873 4,830 99 43 1 0 0 
			 The Appeals Service 34 37 33 89 4 11 0 0 
			 The Pension Service 153 145 120 83 0 0 25 17 
			 Disability and Carers Service 688 669 647 97 15 2 7 1 
			 The Rent Service 4 4 4 100 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 2005 
			 DWP 19,724 19,530 19,027 97 410 2 94 0 
			 Child Support Agency 1,320 1,257 1,098 87 107 9 52 4 
			 Jobcentre Plus 2,319 1,793 1,688 94 93 5 12 1 
			 The Appeals Service 32 30 28 93 2 7 0 0 
			 The Pension Service 750 731 665 91 62 8 4 1 
			 Disability and Carers Service 684 707 703 99 3 0 1 0 
			 The Rent Service 4 4 4 100 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Receipt and response times of MPs letters to chief executives in calendar years
		
			  Number of letters replied to during the year 
			  Received Replies Within 15 days Percentage within 15 days 
		
		
			 2003 
			 DWP 6,324 6,357 5,044 79 
			 Child Support Agency 3,251 3,488 3,040 87 
			 Jobcentre Plus 1,052 891 614 69 
			 The Appeals Service 84 81 71 88 
			 The Pension Service 1,157 1,102 549 50 
			 Disability and Carers Service 554 567 564 99 
			  
			 2004 
			 DWP 8,519 8,556 7,618 89 
			 Child Support Agency 5,390 5,323 4,693 88 
			 Jobcentre Plus 1,136 1,216 1,097 90 
			 The Appeals Service 50 46 45 98 
			 The Pension Service 1,340 1,366 1,217 89 
			 Disability and Carers Service 451 454 453 100 
			 The Rent Service 0 0   
			  
			 2005 
			 DWP 8,068 8,047 7,843 97 
			 Child Support Agency 5,367 5,332 5,275 99 
			 Jobcentre Plus 1,062 1,136 1,024 90 
			 The Appeals Service 60 64 61 95 
			 The Pension Service 1,042 976 961 98 
			 Disability and Carers Service 425 431 431 100 
			 The Rent Service 0 0   
		
	
	Note:
	Data for letters answered beyond the 15 the target are not available as most letters are answered within the target.

Departmental IT Systems

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on IT systems in each year since 1997; what the purpose of each system is; what the outturn against planned expenditure of each system was; and what the (a) planned and (b) actual date of completion was of each system.

Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions was created in June 2001. The Department and its businesses currently have in excess of 100 individual projects which encompass information technology (IT) changes to a greater or lesser extent. The Department's major projects are those contained in its modernisation programme. For the most part, these projects embrace both IT and business change.
	The information in the table lists the Department's current major programmes and projects that include significant IT change, with information on their purpose, due end date, planned expenditure, outturn and actual end date.
	It should be noted that project details may alter as they pass through the project lifecycle and as the Department considers its wider plans as part of the normal spending review process.
	
		
			  Project/purpose  Due end date Planned expenditure ( million) Outturn ( million)(40)  Actual end date 
		
		
			 Customer Management System 
			 This system is an information gathering business process for working age Income Support Jobseeker's Allowance and Incapacity Benefit claims and changes of circumstances. It will allow information supplied by the customer to be gathered electronically by staff, improving efficiency and customer service. Staff will be able to check information supplied against that already held. November 2005 250 250 Completed on time 
			  
			 New Tax Credits 
			 This project supports the implementation of new tax credits by the Inland Revenue by putting a tax credits service in place for DWP customers (principally through Jobcentre Plus) and ensuring that necessary amendments are made to DWP benefits. These systems will be used to complete IS/JSA(IB) Migration by April 2007 April 2005 37 37 Completed on time 
			  
			 ISCS/JSA Modernisation project 
			 Delivered initiatives that enhanced or augmented existing Working Age IT systems. These included the sharing of electronic data with Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and personal details computer systems. August 2004 14 14 Completed on time 
			  
			 Digital Office Infrastructure 
			 DOI provided a modern IT infrastructure platform across the Department providing access for all staff to the internet and intranet and modern business software. June 2004 726 726 Completed on time 
			  
			 Managing Core Systems Estate 
			 To improve the ways in which our core legacy systems are managed. March 2006 5 5 February 2005 
			  
			 Pensions Forecasting Programme 
			 To establish the new Combined Pension Forecasting Service and enhance and replace the existing individual Pension Forecasting IT system April 2005 43 43 Completed on time 
			  
			 Pension Credit 
			 This project successfully introduced Pension Credit in October 2003. It delivered new IT functionality to existing DWP systems, and associated business products (eg training, staff guidance, customer notifications). October 2004 297 297 Completed on time 
			  
			 Pensions Transformation Project 
			 The programme will transform the Pension Service, bringing together business and IT change in ways that improve customer service and deliver efficiencies. Wave 1a November 2005, waves 1b, 2a and 2b by March 2008; waves 35 by 2010 668 Project ongoing Project ongoing 
			  
			 Customer Information System 
			 This project will deliver a database of key citizen information to be shared across DWP. The database will complement information currently available in the Department's key customer information systems, ie Personal Details Computer System and Departmental Central Index, and become their replacement. July 2007 75 Project ongoing Project ongoing 
			  
			 Payment Modernisation Programme 
			 The Payment Modernisation Programme aims to establish direct payment into a bank or building society account as the normal, method of payment for all customers. This includes those who wish to collect their money from the Post Office. December 2005 366 366 June 2005 
			 Resource Management 
			 This programme will provide modernised HR, financial and procurement functions for DWP staff. It will introduce significant business process change, enabling departmental resources to be managed more effectively. September 2006 176 Project ongoing Project ongoing 
			  
			 Debt Management 
			 The Debt Programme introduces a new organisational structure based on 10 Debt Centres and a Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) package to provide new Management Information Systems, combined with increased focus on the management and ultimately reduction of debt stock. February 2006 105 Project ongoing Project ongoing 
			  
			 Central Payments System (formerly part of Payment Modernisation) 
			 New payment processing IT functionality is required to support the DWP to process payments for new entitlement management and financial scheduling systems. September 2009 99 Project ongoing Project ongoing 
			  
			 Benefits Process Replacement Programme (BPRP)2 
			 The programme enables modernised benefit processing, effective fraud management and improved service to employers. It provides the strategic IT platform for the Department providing the foundation for future policy initiatives. TBA TBA Project ongoing Project ongoing 
		
	
	(40) Outturn figures show the final investment cost for the completed projects.
	(41) CSR: The Department had a Private Finance Initiative contract for the provision of IT services to the Child Support Agency worth approximately 456 million over 10 years. This contract commenced in August 2000 with a 10 year duration to August 2010. Under a general realignment of departmental contracts announced in August 2005, EDS will complete the system as currently specified, including correcting all agreed defects. The revised contract still has a completion date of August 2010 and the Department expects to save around 65 million (net present value basis) in Child Support information technology costs over the remaining period of the deal with EDS.
	Notes:
	1. The planned expenditure is;
	for projects currently in progress, the latest forecast investment expenditure or
	for completed projects the final approved investment expenditure.
	2. BPRP: As part of the programme's governance it attended a gate on Monday 6 February 2006. At this gate a number of options for progressing the programme were presented. The gate reserved its decision and asked the programme to:
	(i) Return to a gate in four months time having considered the impact of the Welfare Reform Green Paper; and
	(ii) Continue its investment programme until the next gate by progressing work in areas common to all options presented.
	Agreed forecast costs and completion date is dependant upon this decision.

Employment (Over 50s)

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unemployed people aged over 50 years have been assisted back to work in (a) Denton and Reddish constituency, (b) Stockport Metropolitan Borough and (c) Tameside Metropolitan Borough since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Information on the number of people aged 50 and over in the specified areas who have been helped into work through all the programmes which are available to them is not available. Information on the number of people aged 50 and over who have been helped into work through the New Deal 50 plus programme is in the table.
	
		New Deal Plus
		
			 Location People into jobs 
		
		
			 Denton and Reddish Constituency 240 
			 Stockport Metropolitan Borough 510 
			 Tameside Metropolitan Borough 500 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. New Deal 50 plus was introduced in April 2000.
	2. Latest data are to November 2005.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate

European Social Fund

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of European Social Fund (ESF) funding for post-education skills is for (a) 200506, (b) 200607 and (c) 200708; how much funding is allocated to (i) 16 to 18 Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funding and (ii) 19+ LSC funding; and whether ESF funding is included within LSC allocations announced in the grant letter issued.

James Plaskitt: Planned European Social Fund (ESF) expenditure for post education skills is estimated to be (a) 283 million in 200506, (b) 304 million in 200607 and (c) 170 million in 200708. Estimates of ESF expenditure will be subject to change over time. Within these figures the amounts allocated to the LSC to date are: 241.3 million in 200506, 253.5 million in 200607, and 144.4 million in 200708. These allocations are not broken down by age. ESF funding is not included within LSC allocations announced in the annual grant letter issued by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. ESF expenditure is additional to domestic expenditure.

European Social Fund

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of European Social Fund (ESF) funding is for his Department's programmes in (a) 200506, (b) 200607 and (c) 200708 in England; how much is allocated for each programme; and whether ESF funding is included within the planned total set out in his Department's 2005 annual report.

James Plaskitt: Total planned ESF expenditure is 515.5 million in 200506, 537.5 million in 200607 and 534.9 million in 200708. In both 200607 and 200708, 75 million is allocated to supporting additional activity within the new deals for young people and 25 plus. Apart from this, ESF expenditure is not directly allocated to domestic employment programmes. All ESF expenditure is additional to domestic programme expenditure. ESF expenditure is included within the planned total set out in the Department's 2005 annual report.

Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time Customer Compliance Officers there will be in 200607 to tackle low level fraud that cannot be taken through the criminal courts;
	(2)  whether new Customer Compliance Officers will be classified in his Department's accounts as full-time fraud investigators.

James Plaskitt: In addition to investigators dealing with criminal investigation, from April 2006 there will be around 1,000 Customer Compliance Officers dealing with lower level suspected fraud cases and benefit claims deemed to be of high risk, both at the start of or during the benefit life cycle. At this time, it is not possible to provide a breakdown into full-time and part-time posts.
	Customer Compliance Officers are not part of the Fraud Investigation Service resource and will not be classified as fraud investigators in the Department's accounts.

Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of employing full-time fraud investigators in each of the last three years.

James Plaskitt: The information is not centrally collated and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what is the estimated cost of employing customer compliance officers in each of the next three years.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the following table.
	
		Estimated cost of customer compliance resource --  million
		
			  Estimated cost 
		
		
			 200607 26.6 
			 200708 27.6 
			 200809 28.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. These figures are based on staff numbers (including management, support staff and those directly involved in customer compliance interviewing) of around 1,000 and average salaries.
	2. Increases in years 200708 and 200809 are based on an assumed rise in staff costs of 4 per cent. each year.

Free Movement of Persons Directive

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what regulations the Government plans to bring forward to ensure that Directive 2004/38/EC, on the free movement of persons, does not result in significant additional costs to the UK social security system;
	(2)  how long a national from another EU member state must have been employed in the UK before they are allowed to claim the same social security benefits as a UK national if they are involuntarily made unemployed; and what the position will be when Directive 2004/38/EC, on the free movement of persons, comes into force;
	(3)  how long a national from another EU member state must have been employed in the UK before they are entitled to the same social security benefits as a non-UK citizen; and what the position will be when Directive 2004/38/EC comes into force;
	(4)  whether there are any social security benefits from which nationals from other EU member states resident in the UK are always excluded; and what the position will be when Directive 2004/38/EC, on free movement of persons, comes into force;
	(5)  under what circumstances a national from another EU member state would be classed as creating an unreasonable burden on the UK's social assistance system and therefore qualify for expulsion;
	(6)  what measures the Government have put in place to monitor and expel nationals from other member states whom it considers are placing an unreasonable burden on the UK's social assistance system.

James Plaskitt: There is a wide range of social security benefits in the UK, with different rules governing access to them. There is no one rule which states how long an individual must have been resident or have worked in the UK before they can claim benefits.
	As a general rule, nationals from EU states working in the UK and paying NI contributions have the same access as UK workers to contributory benefits.
	In relation to other benefits, EU nationals have rights to equal treatment under the EU Treaty which are given effect by EC regulations, in particular EC Regulation 1408/71, These rules are complicated, but there are no benefits from which an EU national can be permanently excluded.
	Current UK regulations require that a person must be habitually resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland (generally known as the Common Travel Area) to qualify for non-contributory income-related benefits. The habitual residence test was amended on 1 May 2004 when the Social Security (Habitual Residence) Amendment Regulations 2004 came into force. The test provides that no person should be treated as habitually resident in the Common Travel Area if he or she does not have a right to reside there. Therefore anyone without a right to reside cannot qualify for the relevant benefits. There are some categories of individuals who are exempt from the habitual residence test, including EU workers.
	Directive 2004/38/EC has implications for access by EU nationals to non-contributory income-related benefits.
	The directive, broadly, consolidates existing EC legislation relating to rights of residence in the EU. The Home Office is responsible for transposing the directive into domestic legislation and is preparing draft regulations to come into force on 30 April 2006.
	The key aspects of the directive from DWP's point of view is that it provides:
	A new right to reside for all EU nationals and their family members for the first three months of their stay in the UK even if they are not self-sufficient; and
	That member states are not obliged to confer entitlement to social assistance to EU nationals during that first three months of residence unless they are workers, self-employed persons, persons who retain such status and their family members (cf. Article 24(2) of the Directive).
	This means that the UK's regulations relating to income-related benefits need to be amended to ensure that economically inactive EU nationals are not automatically given a right to benefit just because they have a right to reside.
	The Government will therefore be introducing The Social Security (Persons From Abroad) Amendment Regulations 2006. These will achieve the following, with effect from 30 April 2006:
	Apply the derogation in Article 24(2) of the directive in respect of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, state pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit; and
	Update, where appropriate, the terminology in the income-related benefit regulations so that previous references to EC legislation are expressed in terms of the new directive.
	Set out the habitual residence test in a clearer manner.
	The Home Office is responsible for assessing whether an EU national is removable. We are working with the Home Office to define the circumstances where an EU national is potentially removable for being an unreasonable burden on the UK social assistance system and any subsequent procedures to effect removal should that person be defined as an unreasonable burden on the host member state.

Fuel Poverty

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he is contributing to the Government's commitment to eradicate fuel poverty.

Stephen Timms: This Department is committed to eradicating fuel poverty.
	The winter fuel payment administered by the Department has already made significant inroads in eradicating fuel poverty. The payment has risen above the level of inflation, from 20 in winter 199798 to 200 from winter 200001 and to 300 for those aged 80 or over from winter 200304. Over 1.9 billion was paid out in 200405.
	The Pension Service's Local Service, has also been carrying out benefit entitlement checks as part of their home visits to customers and refers them to the warm front scheme administered by the Department for Trade and Industry, if appropriate.
	New processes have also been developed between The Pension Service and the Home Heat Helpline, a private sector run and funded fuel poverty helpline launched in October 2005, which help to maximise the take-up of benefits, help from the utilities companies and warm front grants. The Department is also working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Energy Industry and the Voluntary Sector to tackle fuel poverty in the UK.
	The most recent data available show that the numbers of households in fuel poverty in the UK fell from a high of 6.5 million in 1996 to 2 million in 2003.

Households Below Average Income

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the next set of Households Below Average Income data will be published.

Margaret Hodge: Households Below Average Income 199596 to 200405 was published on 9 March 2006 and a copy is being placed in the Library.

Housing Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) housing benefit and (b) local housing allowance claimants there are in each Pathfinder area; and how many in each category have private tenancies.

James Plaskitt: The local housing allowance only applies to deregulated private sector tenancies. The information is in the table.
	
		Housing benefit case load in Pathfinder local authorities: overall, private rented sector and local housing allowance cases,August 2005
		
			  Housing benefit cases 
			   Of which: 
			 Pathfinder authority All tenancies Private sector tenancies Local housing allowance 
		
		
			 Blackpool 14,600 9,000 8,200 
			 Brighton and Hove 23,600 10,300 8,700 
			 Conwy 6,600 2,600 2,100 
			 Coventry 22,600 5,700 4,300 
			 Edinburgh 33,500 7,500 6,200 
			 Leeds 54,200 7,500 6,300 
			 Lewisham 29,100 5,600 4,200 
			 N.E. Lincolnshire 12,300 5,000 4,300 
			 Teignbridge 5,700 2,500 2,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Case loads are rounded to nearest 100. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
	2. Local housing allowance (LHA) case loads reported here exclude LHA claimants currently in receipt of transitional protection.
	3. All tenancies include social sector (local authority tenancies and registered social landlord (RSL) tenancies) and private sector tenancies.
	4. Local housing allowance is a form of housing benefit.
	Source:
	DWP administrative data, August 2005.

Housing Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit claimants there were in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many claimants in each country had private tenancies.

James Plaskitt: Information regarding Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Office. The available information for Great Britain is in the table.
	
		Housing benefit (HB) recipients in Great Britain by country: August 2005
		
			  All HB recipients Private tenancies 
		
		
			 Great Britain 3,981,000 805,500 
			 England 3,340,300 707,000 
			 Wales 200,200 45,800 
			 Scotland 440,500 52,800 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases.
	4. Figures for any non-responding local authorities have been estimated.
	5. Private tenancies exclude Registered Social Landlords (RSL) tenancies.
	Source:
	Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system quarterly 100 percent. caseload stock-count taken in August 2005.

Jobcentre Plus

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Jobcentre Plus training budgets were allocated for in (a) 200506 and (b) 200607 in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) each Jobcentre Plus office; and what the percentage change between the two years is in each case.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 14 February 2006
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question asking what the Jobcentre Plus training budgets were in England and Wales in (a) 200506 and (b) 200607, broken down (i) between England and Wales and (ii) by Jobcentre Plus Office; and what the percentage change between the two years is in each case. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Employment Programme costs relating to training for customers in 2005/06 are expected to be; for England 404.7m; and Wales 19.5m. Training includes Work Based Learning for Adults, Short Intensive Basic Skills, Ambition and New Deal excluding New Deal for Disabled People. Figures are not available at Jobcentre Plus office level.
	The Welsh Assembly also provides employment training provision for customers in Wales which is not included in this figure.
	It is not possible to provide figures for 2006/07, as the individual provisions for the Jobcentre Plus Employment Programme for next year have not yet been agreed.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed in Jobcentre Plus in the UK at the end of each of the last 18 months for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many staff were employed in Jobcentre Plus in the UK at the end of each of the last 18 months for which figures are available. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The information you require is in the table below. The numbers relate to Staff in Post, not full time equivalents.
	
		Jobcentre Plus Staff in Post figures
		
			 Year Month Number 
		
		
			 2004 August 86,589 
			  September 85,605 
			  October 85,605 
			  November 85,034 
			  December 85,307 
			  
			 2005 January 84,460 
			  February 83,996 
			  March 82,603 
			  April 82,489 
			  May 82,099 
			  June 82,075 
			  July 82,328 
			  August 82,230 
			  September 82,015 
			  October 81,671 
			  November 81,582 
			  December 81,567 
			  
			 2006 January 81,629 
		
	
	Source:
	Management Information (Ml) Portal

Jobcentre Plus

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the pay scales are for staff employed by Jobcentre Plus; and how many staff were paid at each level in the latest period for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the pay scales are for staff employed by Jobcentre Plus; and how many staff were paid at each level in the latest period for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In answer to your specific question, there are 67 pay scales currently in operation. Specialist pay scales account for 56 of these and attract between 1 and 280 staff each. There are 11 generalist scales and these attract between 1 and 43,125 staff each.
	Detailed information is attached at Annex A.
	I hope this is helpful
	
		ANNEX A
		
			  Grade  Job title  Min pay  Max pay Staff numbers 
		
		
			 Generalist 
			 AA/Band A n/a 12,340 17,380 4,527 
			 AO/Band B n/a 13,990 20,890 43,125 
			 EO/Band C n/a 18,160 27,300 30,593 
			 HEO/Band D n/a 23,930 32,530 4,006 
			 SEO/Band E n/a 29,570 39,240 1,239 
			 Grade 7/Band F n/a 38,390 56,360 193 
			 Grade 6 Band G n/a 51,790 68,630 78 
			 Pay Band 1 Senior Civil Servant 54,788 79,656 29 
			 Pay Band 2 Senior Civil Servant 75,609 101,905 14 
			 Pay Band 3 Senior Civil Servant 93,139 132,586  
			  Permanent Secretary 130,350 209,477 1 
			  
			 Specialist 
			 Grade 3 Security Guard 17,270 22,810  
			 Grade 2 Security Guard 20,020 26,130  
			 SGB2 Security Guard/Cleaners 12,890 17,280 280 
			 SGB1 Security Guard/Cleaners 14,460 18,980 38 
			 N/A Cleaners 12,675 13,115  
			 SEO/Band E Accountant 35,760 45990 9 
			 Grade 7/Band F Accountant 44,090 59,900 2 
			 Grade 6/Band G Accountant 57,200 71,700 3 
			 EO/Band C Analyst Statistical Officer 18,160 27,300  
			 HEO/Band D Higher Statistical Officer 23,930 32,530 1 
			 EO/Band C Scientific Officer 19,030 31,440  
			 HEO/Band D Higher Scientific Officer 23,930 36,280  
			 SEO/Band E Senior Scientific Officer 29,570 43,780 1 
			 Grade 7/Band F Principle Scientific Officer 42,310 59,420 3 
			 HEO/Band D Auditor MIIA 29,770 38,700  
			 HEO/Band D Auditor PIIA 28,630 37,250  
			 SEO/Band E Auditor MIIR 35,760 45,990  
			 Grade 7/Band F Auditor 44,090 59,900  
			 Grade 6/Band G Auditor 57,200 71,700  
			 EO/Band C Comms Group Assistant info Officer 21,280 31,440  
			 HEO/Band D Information Officer 27,890 36,280 13 
			 SEO/Band E Senior Information Officer 34,370 47,550 14 
			 Grade 7/Band F Communications 42,310 58,520 1 
			 EO/Band C Assistant Librarian 21,280 31,440  
			 Grade 7/Band F Lawyer 41,760 57,950  
			 Grade 6/Band G Lawyer 51,790 70,890  
			 EO/Band C Social Worker 18,160 27,300 3 
			 EO/Band C Trainee Graduate Psychology 21,000 27,300 16 
			 HEO/Band D Higher Psychologist 25,680 33,800 45 
			 SEO/Band E Senior Psychologist 32,320 43,300  
			 Grade 7/Band F Principle Psychologist 41,120 56,360  
			 Grade 6/Band G Medical Officer 58,980 78,890  
			 HEO/Band D Librarian 25,010 36,280  
			 SEO/Band E Senior Librarian 28,290 43,540  
			 EO/Band C Graphic Technical Officer 18,160 30,060 3 
			 HEO/Band D Higher Graphics Officer 27,890 34,780  
			 HEO/Band D IT Specialist 27,420 33,770  
			 SEO/Band E IT Specialist 32,780 38,830  
			 Grade 7/Band F IT Specialist 41,200 56,360  
			 Grade 6/Band G IT Specialist 54,650 71,530  
			 N/A Law Group Pupil Barrister/ Legal Trainee 18,570 24,210  
			 N/A Legal Officer 31,590 41,650  
			 HEO/Band D Research Officer 22,040 31,440 2 
			 SEO/Band E Senior Research Officer 29,570 43,780 2 
			 Grade 7/Band F Senior Principle Research Officer 42,310 59,420 144 
			 Grade 6/Band G Senior Principle Research Officer 54,540 70,890 63 
			 Grade 7/Band F Principle Statistician 42,310 59,420  
			 Grade 6/Band G Senior Principle Statistician 54,540 70,890  
			 Grade 7/Band F Principle Economist 42,310 59,420 2 
			 Grade 6/Band G Senior Principle Economist 56,540 70,890  
			 N/A Fast Stream 27,240 36480 2 
			 SEO/Band E Audit Group Risk Consultant 31,440 41020 2

Jobseeker's Allowance

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the amount of jobseeker's allowance claimed by the self-employed; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Due to the very small numbers of claimants involved it is not possible to accurately estimate the information requested.

Lone Parents (Work)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in helping lone parents back to work.

Margaret Hodge: Since 1997, our labour market policies have helped to increase the lone parent employment rate by 11.3 percentage points to stand at 56.6 per cent. in spring 2005equating to around 1 million lone parents in employment.
	In our Green Paper 'A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work', we have proposed increased contact with lone parents through more frequent work focused interviews, as well as the intention to pilot a work-related activity premium to encourage more lone parents with older children to plan their return to work.

National Insurance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made in the introduction of the National Insurance Number Operating Business Model.

James Plaskitt: A new Operating Business Model for National Insurance Number (NINO) Allocation is currently being introduced across Great Britain. The main aims of the new model are to introduce appointment booking through contact centres for customers wishing to apply for a NINO and to organise interviews for NINOs within offices in each region or country dedicated to that purpose.
	The introduction of appointment booking through contact centres will enable all customers to utilise a single 0845 telephone number. A NINO interview will then be arranged at the nearest interviewing site to either the customer's home address or workplace.
	To date the North East, Scotland, South West, East Midlands and Wales have fully implemented the new model, with partial implementation in London. The remaining regions will implement the new model over the next few months.

National Insurance

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for illegally obtaining a national insurance number; and in how many cases the prosecution resulted in a conviction.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

New Deal

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of 18 to 24-year-old new deal leavers have been back on jobseeker's allowance within six months.

Margaret Hodge: Up to the end of May 2005, 35 per cent. of those who had left new deal for young people claimed jobseeker's allowance (JSA) within six months of leaving the programme. This is inevitable in a dynamic labour market, but those young people who do return to JSA after finding a job through new deal will have added to their skills and experience, making it easier for them to find a job in the future.
	Note
	Latest jobseeker's allowance data are to November 2005, hence only those who had left new deal for young people by the end of May 2005 are included.

New Deal

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether employer surveys have been conducted since 1998 to estimate the proportion of employment vacancies that would have existed without the new deal subsidy.

Margaret Hodge: In September 2000, we published research by independent researchers to assess the impact of the new deal subsidised employment option from an employer perspective. The option is available through new deal for young people and new deal 25 plus, and over 3,000 employers who had recruited employees through it were consulted during the survey.
	The report New Deals for Young People and Long Term Unemployed: Survey of Employers Jon Hales, Debbie Collins, Chris Hasluck and Stephen Woodland, employment service report 58, September 2000, is available in the Library.

New Deal

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those on a new deal option at 31 December 2005 was on the subsidised employment option.

Margaret Hodge: New deal options are available through new deal for young people and new deal 25 plus. The latest figures available show that, at the end of August 2005, 16 per cent. of participants on a new deal option were on the subsidised employment option.

New Deal

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of new deal subsidised employees as at 1 April 2005 were still employed at the end of December 2005.

Margaret Hodge: The subsidised employment option is available through both new deal for young people and new deal 25 plus. New deal data are calculated to the end rather than the beginning of a calendar month and 86 per cent. of those participating on the new deal subsidised employment option on 31 March 2005 were still in employment at the end of August 2005, which is the latest date for which information is available. This percentage includes some people who were still on the subsidised employment option and others who were no longer on the option, but were recorded as being in employment.1
	1 Data available through the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

New Deal

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those receiving full-time education and training in 2004 under the new deal left for unsubsidised employment.

Margaret Hodge: The full-time education and training option is only available for new deal for young people (NDYP). 30 per cent. of people who were receiving full-time education and training in 2004 under NDYP left for unsubsidised employment.
	Note
	Latest data on jobs gained through new deal is to August 2005.

New Deal

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those on the new deal who chose the option of full-time education and training have completed their course.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available.

New Deal

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those on the new deal in 2005 chose the option of full-time education and training.

Margaret Hodge: The new deal full-time education and training option is only available to those participating on the new deal for young people (NDYP). Between January and November 1 2005, 14 percent. of those on NDYP had participated on the full-time education and training option.
	1 Latest data available are to November 2005.

New Deal

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change in youth employment as a result of the new deal was in each year since its launch.

Margaret Hodge: The new deal has been extremely successful in helping more than one and a half million people into work, including more than 640, 000 young people. Long term youth unemployment has been virtually eradicated and youth claimant unemployment has fallen by two-fifths, to its lowest level for 30 years. There are almost a quarter of a million more young people, aged 18 to 24, in work than there were in 1997.
	The number of people gaining a job through new deal for young people is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  People gaining a job 
		
		
			 January-December 1998 72,000 
			 January-December 1999 123,080 
			 January-December 2000 101,770 
			 January-December 2001 82,460 
			 January-December 2002 74,900 
			 January-December 2003 76,580 
			 January-December 2004 74,380 
			 January-August 2005 41,170 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Latest available information on jobs gained through new deal for young people is to August 2005.
	2. Figures are rounded to nearest 10.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate

New Deal

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend the new deal for musicians to theatre artists.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 6 March 2006
	New deal for musicians is intended to help unemployed aspiring musicians into a sustainable career, either as artists under contract or self-employed artists, within the music industry. It is available to jobseekers who are eligible for either new deal for young people or new deal 25 plus. Up to the end of November 2005, new deal for musicians had helped 3,880 people into unsubsidised employment. There are no plans to extend new deal for musicians to artists other than musicians.

New Deal

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average age of new deal for young people leavers who left the programme to commence (a) employment, (b) a combination of employment and claiming benefits and (c) claiming benefits only has been in each year since the scheme began.

Margaret Hodge: The information is in the table.
	
		Average age of new deal for young people leavers by destination (years)
		
			  Employment Employment/Benefits Benefits only 
		
		
			 1998 21 21 21 
			 1999 21 22 22 
			 2000 21 22 22 
			 2001 21 22 21 
			 2002 21 22 21 
			 2003 21 22 21 
			 2004 21 22 21 
			 2005 21 22 21 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The 'Benefits Only' destination includes those leaving to jobseeker's allowance, income support, incapacity benefit, incapacity benefit with income support, and other/unknown benefits.
	2. Age is calculated at the point of leaving the programme.
	3. Data for 2005 are from January to August.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, DWP

Pay Disregard

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will increase the lower limit pay disregard.

James Plaskitt: There are no plans to change the 5 lower limit earnings disregard.
	The disregards are designed to achieve a balance between providing an encouragement to undertake part-time work and remain in touch with the labour market, without creating disincentives to full-time work. Too high a level of disregards can increase income from benefits plus part-time work to a point where full-time work becomes less attractive.

Personal Capability Assessments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the centres at which Personal Capability Assessments were conducted; and how many such assessments were carried out at each centre in each of the last six years.

Margaret Hodge: The Personal Capability Assessment was introduced in April 2000 to replace the All Work Test for Incapacity Benefit. Details of the number of incapacity benefit medical examinations and Personal Capability Assessments completed at each examination centre, including casual hire premises used on an ad hoc basis, from 1999 to 2005 have been placed in the Library.

Post Office Card Account

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what reports he has received of Post Office counter staff committing fraud in paying pensions and winter fuel payments using the Post Office card account.

James Plaskitt: The Department for Work and Pensions has received no reports of Post Office counter staff committing fraud in paying pensions and winter fuel payments using the Post Office card account.

Post Office Card Account

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each London borough collected their (a) pensions and (b) benefit payments through the use of a Post Office Card Account in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Birmingham collect their (a) pensions and (b) benefit payments through the Post Office card account.

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Kettering constituency have a Post Office Card Account; and how many are registered at each Post Office in Kettering constituency.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 27 February 2006
	The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information showing the number of DWP benefit and pension payment accounts paid by direct payment into a Post Office card account for each parliamentary constituency has been placed in the Library.

Post Office Card Account

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Post Office card accounts have been opened since they were established; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Since April 2003 4,741,295 Post Office card accounts have been opened, of which 4,261,132 were in use at 15 January 2006.
	In addition to accounts used by my Department this figure includes Post Office card accounts used by the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency, the Veterans Agency (Ministry of Defence) and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

Post Office Card Account

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received regarding the future of Post Office card accounts; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: We have received a number of letters on the future of the Post Office card account. We have also answered questions in the House and responded to points raised during debates. We have already set out our policy on the Post Office card account at some length, including in the reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 31 January 2006, Official Report, columns 44344W.

Post Office Card Account

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Stroud constituency used a Post Office card account to access (a) state pensions or pension credits, (b) child benefit and (c) other benefits in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information showing the number of DWP benefit and pension payment accounts paid by direct payment into a Post Office card account for each parliamentary constituency has been placed in the Library.
	Child benefit and war pensions information is not included as these are the responsibility of HM Revenue and Customs and Ministry of Defence, respectively.

Post Office Card Account

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2006, Official Report, columns 218788W, on Post Office card accounts, what was the outcome of the pilot schemes; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The pilots began on 13 February 2006 and will be concluded by mid-March. We will then evaluate the results and discuss the findings with the Post Office and other key stakeholders. Our pilots will help ensure that our future payments strategy up to 2010 reflects the needs of our customers.

State Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the state earnings-related pension scheme/state second pension entitlement would be at current prices for someone working until 2010 after (a) one, (b) 15 and (c) 25 years of national insurance contributions, assuming full-time median earnings.

Stephen Timms: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  Additional pension () 
		
		
			 Entitlement based on 1 years contributions: 2 
			 Entitlement based on 15 years contributions: 34 
			 Entitlement based on 25 years contributions: 56 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures have been expressed in 200506 earnings terms based on constant median full-time adult earnings.
	2. We have assumed standard rate class 1 national insurance contributions have been paid, or treated as paid, during the last 1, 15 and 25 years of the individual's working life.

Unemployment Benefits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits has been since May 2004.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table.
	
		Jobseeker's allowance caseloads: Great Britain, each monthMay 2004 to January 2006
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 May 2004 829,500 
			 June 2004 820,800 
			 July 2004 808,800 
			 August 2004 805,100 
			 September 2004 806,300 
			 October 2004 806,600 
			 November 2004 802,100 
			 December 2004 795,800 
			 January 2005 784,800 
			 February 2005 788,600 
			 March 2005 802,200 
			 April 2005 813,100 
			 May 2005 827,200 
			 June 2005 834,600 
			 July 2005 836,500 
			 August 2005 839,300 
			 September 2005 850,000 
			 October 2005 863,200 
			 November 2005 873,200 
			 December 2005 877,900 
			 January 2006 876,100 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are seasonally adjusted.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	Seasonally adjusted count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems

HEALTH

Alcohol Treatment

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received on the Welling Alcohol Service Provision project.

Caroline Flint: Since June 2005 there have been two letters regarding the Welling alcohol service provision in Welling, Kent.
	The Government are working hard to improve services for people affected by alcohol misuse. The alcohol harm reduction strategy for England was published on 15 March 2004. The strategy seeks to fulfil the NHS Plan commitment to prevent any further increase in alcohol related harms in England.
	I announced on 1 November 2005 the launch of Alcohol Misuse Interventions: Guidance on developing a local programme of Improvement.

Alzheimer's Disease

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on access to drugs for Alzheimer's disease; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Since the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its latest appraisal consultation document on the use of Alzheimer's disease drugs on 23 January 2006, aside from correspondence from members of the public, Ministers have received representations from the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Alzheimer's Society. It is for NICE to consider responses to its consultation.

Alzheimer's Disease

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response her Department has received from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to questions on the procedure for assessing drugs for Alzheimer's disease; and if she will place a copy of the responses in the Library.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has consulted on revised draft guidance on drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. The consultation ended on 13 February 2006. NICE has not yet finalised its revised guidance to the NHS, and until this new guidance is published in its final form NICE'S existing appraisal of Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl continues to apply. NICE normally addresses stakeholder comments in its final appraisal determination (FAD) documents. The FAD on drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is expected to be published later this year.

Beef Procurement

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much beef was procured last year through framework agreements established by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, broken down by country of origin.

Jane Kennedy: The table shows beef procured for 200405 by country of origin through NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency framework agreements.
	
		
			  Total () 
		
		
			 Argentina 572.00 
			 Australia 21.00 
			 Botswana 112,114.38 
			 Brazil 12,352.40 
			 Denmark 12,815.59 
			 France 156,580.91 
			 Germany 145,011.83 
			 Holland 53,791.60 
			 Ireland 485,093.65 
			 Italy 2,468.00 
			 New Zealand 1,840.17 
			 Namibia 79,425.43 
			 South Africa 36,106.71 
			 Spain 1,029.00 
			 United Kingdom 1,650,810.52 
			 Uruguay 179,582.94 
			 Not Specified 8,957.23 
			 Grand Total 2,938,573.35 
		
	
	Although beef is traceable, a small number of suppliers have not yet provided the country of origin within their sales reports and has been noted separately in the figures.
	The framework agreement incorporating beef is used to supply approximately 70 per cent. of the requirements of the national health service in England for beef and aims to deliver best value for money in terms of price, quality and service from contracted suppliers.

Benzene

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of (a) nutrient levels in organic baby foods and (b) the incidence of benzene in drinks marketed for children.

Caroline Flint: Minimum levels of some nutrients in certain baby foods are defined in law. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has not carried out an assessment of nutrient levels in organic baby foods. The FSA would expect to see a range of nutrient contents in baby foods, due to differences in recipes and manufacturing practices.
	The FSA received a report from the soft drinks industry summarising the analysis of over 200 products for benzene. The levels of benzene reported were very low and not a concern for public health. Nevertheless, the FSA is carrying out its own survey of benzene in soft drinks on sale in the United Kingdom market and aims to publish the results within four weeks.

Benzodiazepine Addiction

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to register benzodiazepine dependence as a long-term condition under the National Service Framework.

Caroline Flint: The intention of the national service framework (NSF) for long-term conditions is not to address individual neurological conditions, but to describe the level of care health and social care organisations should be working towards for anybody with a long-term neurological condition. While the NSF focuses on long-term conditions that are neurological in origin, guidance does stress the importance of using the NSF in planning service developments for people with other long-term conditions. Benzodiazepine dependence will not be a life-long condition for many sufferers.
	Those with benzodiazepine dependence can access services in primary and secondary care through their general practitioner. Services available in primary care may include prescribing, advice, counselling, psychological therapy (individual or group) and anxiety management or approaches to sleep problems. We are taking steps to strengthen primary care mental health provision through the appointment of new staff and by improving training.
	In secondary care, services for people with more complex symptoms should be available through community mental health teams or through more specialised drug action teams.

Biobank Project

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government support has been committed to the Biobank project; what progress has been made with the project; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Government are contributing 33.5 million toward the cost of UK Biobank.
	The project is on course to begin participant recruitment for its main study in the autumn of this year. The first phase of pilot studies to test the feasibility and acceptability of the questionnaires and assessment centre visits has been successfully completed. The second phase, which will test the full integrated process from participant identification, consent procedures and assessment centre measures to the storage of data and samples, is due to begin this month.

Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department's repeat analysis of variations in the use of cancer drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will be concluded; and when she plans to make the findings publicly available.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 13 February 2006
	Information from this exercise is currently being analysed and the findings should be available in the summer.

Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what clinical negligence payments were made by hospitals trusts within the Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority in 200405.

Liam Byrne: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on Tuesday 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1802W.

Chlamydia

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in transferring responsibility for the National Chlamydia Screening Programme from her Department to the Health Protection Agency.

Caroline Flint: The Health Protection Agency is currently recruiting staff and we expect the full transfer should be completed in the very near future.

Contraception

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much North Devon primary care trust has spent on training pharmacists in the use of the morning-after pill in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how much they plan to spend in each of the next three years.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not held centrally. It is for North Devon primary care trust to decide how much to spend on training pharmacists in the use of the morning-after pill, as local national health service organisations in conjunction with their strategic health authorities are responsible for planning services for local people.

Dentistry

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates (a) she has and (b) her officials have met the (i) British Dental Association, (ii) the Dental Practitioners Association and (iii) dentists to discuss the new General Dental Services contract; and what matters were raised.

Rosie Winterton: Over the past six months, I met with the British Dental Association (BDA) on 6 July, 1 December 2005 and 14 February 2006. I met with the Dental Practitioners Association (DPA) on 15 March 2005.
	Over the last year, the acting Chief Dental Officer has met with the BDA on the following dates: 21 February, 6 April, 13 July, 6 and 28 October and 30 November 2005. A further 12 informal meetings have also been held on 9 and 29 March, 26 May, 8 June, 6 and 29 July, 3 August, 12 September, 5 October 2005, 6 January and 3 February 2006.
	The acting Chief Dental Officer met with the DPA on 23 February, 15 March and 21 October 2005.
	In the last six months, the acting Chief Dental Officer has attended 31 meetings with dentists across England.
	The meetings have covered a wide range of issues, including the draft regulations governing the new general dental services contracts and personal dental services agreement, the regulations governing the new system of patient charges, the proposed transitional provisions and the calculation of units of dental activity.

Diabetes

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the capacity of Wockhardt to meet demand from diabetes patients for natural animal insulins when it becomes the only supplier of animal insulin in the UK;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the likely effects on UK supplies of animal insulin of the level of imports to the EU and US for personal use;
	(3)  what steps she is taking to ensure there is no disruption to the (a) supply and (b) production of animal insulins in the UK;
	(4)  what steps she is taking to guarantee the supply and availability of animal insulins; and whether these supplies can be guaranteed until 2010:

Jane Kennedy: The Department is in regular contact with Wockhardt UK. The company has assured the Department of its commitment to continue the supply of its animal insulins in the United Kingdom. It has also given assurance that it will be able to meet any increased demand when NovoNordisk's products are no longer available. Demand from other European Union countries and the United States for personal use is insignificant compared to UK requirements, but will be taken into consideration as part of Wockhardt's forward planning. It is building up stocks to cover increased demand and any unforeseen short term manufacturing issues that might arise.

Diabetes

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the cost-effectiveness of the new long-acting insulin, placed on the market after the initial National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance published in 2002; and whether the forthcoming NICE review will include such an assessment.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has proposed that detemir insulin should be appraised separately through its new single technology appraisal process.

Diabetes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the initial National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on the use of long-acting insulin analogues published in November 2002 is under review; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I understand that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is reviewing technology appraisal guideline issued in December 2002 on long-acting insulin analogues in the context of developing a clinical guideline on type two diabetes and updating its clinical guideline on type one diabetes.

E.coli 0157

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many outbreaks of E.coli 0157 occurred in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		General outbreaks of Vero cytotoxin-producing E. coli 0157 infection in England and Wales 200305
		
			   All outbreaks Foodborne outbreaks 
		
		
			 2003 5 1 
			 2004 11 1 
			 2005(42) 7 2 
		
	
	(42) 2005 data are provisional.
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency

Elective Treatment

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether an estimate was made by her Department of the cost to the NHS of locally provided independent sector elective treatment as part of its analysis of the NHS budget overspend for 200506.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 February 2006
	No such estimate was made.
	Information collected centrally on expenditure on purchase of healthcare from non national health service bodies includes spend on NHS services in the independent sector. However, as this information is not broken down by type of service, it is not possible to identify costs of locally procured independent sector elective treatment from other services such as mental health and nursing care.

Eye Tests

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to encourage take-up of free eye tests amongst (a) groups with an increased genetic risk of developing glaucoma and (b) people with diabetes.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 27 February 2006
	The arrangements for providing help with national health service optical services and other health costs are publicised in leaflet HC11 Are you entitled to help with health costs? Posters are also available for display in optical practices and hospital out-patient departments.
	Glaucoma was referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in November 2005. NICE will prepare a clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of raised intraocular pressure and ocular hypertension.
	Screening for diabetic retinopathy is a priority for primary care trusts with a target in the priorities and planning framework 200306 and the diabetes national service framework delivery strategy for 80 per cent. of people to be offered screening for the early detection (and treatment if needed) of diabetic retinopathy by the end of March 2006 rising to 100 per cent. by the end of 2007.

Foster Review

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government expect to publish the outcome of the Foster Review of non-medical healthcare regulation.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley) on Monday 13 February 2006, Official Report, column 1765W.

General Practitioners' Premises

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners' premises in each primary care trust area in London were above minimum standards on the last date for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 February 2006
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) and predecessor organisations, have responsibility for managing delivery of services provided by general practitioners (GPs); including the adequacy of their practice premises from which to provide.
	Data are not collected in the format requested. The data shown in the table are of PCT assessments of GP premises below minimum standards as at 31 March 2005. The data are also expressed as a percentage.
	The 2005 snapshot by PCTs shows that collectively they have judged many GP premises across London as being below minimum standards. This needs to be set in context in that judgements for some of those standards are subjective which by their very nature may lead to some PCTs reporting higher levels of premises that do not meet minimum standards than other PCTs with similar premises.
	In addition, failure is not about buildings being in a dangerous state of repair. Rather, that the premises may not have for example, adequate access to and within premises and WC facilities for disabled patients and staff.
	This is not because of a lack of intent by GPs practices and their PCTs to provide these facilities but because for example, the building is too small to incorporate them; with a general lack of suitable, alternative locations to develop. These are historic problems for London and other inner city PCTs that prevents investment in smaller business buildings including the development of modern GP and wider primary care premises.
	Nevertheless, the NHS plan set targets to substantially improve or replace up to 3,000 general practitioner premises and provide 500 one-stop primary care centres by 2004. These national targets were achieved with 462 premises improvements and 45 one-stop primary care centres produced or being developed across London. These resulted in improved patient-work environments/made additional services available to patients.
	For the longer term, across the London area all PCTs apart from Kensington and Chelsea PCT, and Westminster PCT are part of NHS LIFT. This, in its initial phase, has delivered to date 14 new buildings open to patients with another 18 under construction. These are not like-for-like replacements but modern super-surgeries that co-locate a range of primary, community and social care services with others normally provided in hospital settings.
	Examples include Newham PCT, who are through City and East London LIFT delivering a wider range of services to patients. The Centre, Manor Park houses three GP practices, health visitors, dentists, pharmacy, cardiology clinic, x-ray facilities, pathology services, optometry services and a healthy living cafe together in a single, one-stop centre.
	Another is Hounslow PCT, who are through Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow LIFT, developing the Thelma Golding Centre that will open to patients in early 2007. This will relocate three GP practices (11 GPs) alongside community and PCT services, such as smoking cessation, speech and language therapy, alongside London borough of Hounslow Social Services child and adult mental teams.
	As LIFT establishes a long-term partnership between the public and private sectors it will support the continued development of a health and social care estate that is fit for purpose to deliver 21st century services.
	
		PCT returns on 31 March 2005 of the number of general practitioner premises below minimum standards.
		
			 PCT name PCT code Number of premises below the minimum standards. Percentage of premises below the minimum standards. 
		
		
			 Barnet PCT 5A9 34 50 
			 Enfield PCT 5C1 48 79 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 5C9 31 61 
			 Camden PCT 5K7 13 29 
			 Islington PCT 5K8 23 51 
			 Havering PCT 5A4 58 100 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 5C2 37 70 
			 City and Hackney PCT 5C3 10 19 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 5C4 16 37 
			 Newham PCT 5C5 25 37 
			 Redbridge PCT 5NA 0 0 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 5NC 36 62 
			 Hillingdon PCT 5AT 7 13 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 5H1 12 34 
			 Baling PCT 5HX 22 26 
			 Hounslow PCT 5HY 14 31 
			 Brent PCT 5K5 5 6 
			 Harrow PCT 5K6 1 2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 5LA 28 64 
			 Westminster PCT 5LC 9 15 
			 Bromley PCT 5A7 2 4 
			 Greenwich PCT 5A8 0 0 
			 Lambeth PCT 5LD 6 12 
			 Southwark PCT 5LE 5 10 
			 Lewisham PCT 5LF 48 94 
			 Bexley Care Trust 5TAK 0 0 
			 Kingston PCT 5A5 0 0 
			 Croydon PCT 5K9 0 0 
			 Wandsworth PCT 5LG 0 0 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 5M6 27 77 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 5M7 0 0

Health Services (Gloucestershire)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been redirected from Gloucestershire to Avon and Wiltshire in each year since the creation of the strategic health authority; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I am informed by Avon, Gloucester and Wiltshire strategic health authority (SHA) that no funds have been redirected from Gloucestershire to Avon and Wiltshire since the creation of the SHA in 2001.

Health Services (Gloucestershire)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the (a) reasons for and (b) plans to address the budget deficits in (i) two of Gloucestershire's primary care trusts and (ii) the Gloucestershire hospitals NHS trust; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities (SHAs) to manage local finances.
	In organisations that have the greatest financial challenges turnaround teams will support the national health service in identifying opportunities to deliver services with greater cost-effectiveness and to make financial savings. They will help the local NHS ensure that the NHS delivers both its key targets and financial balance.
	The first stage of this is a baseline assessment, the aim of which is to ensure there is an agreed understanding of the local financial problem and that actions are in hand to address this. The first phase of this assessment is complete and Cotswold and Vale primary care trust was included in this assessment. It was assessed as requiring additional expertise to support turnaround. The team is agreeing a tailored package of turnaround support with the SHA and the organisation. SHA turnaround work is led by the new finance director, who took up post last December.

Hepatitis C

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, column 2279W, on hepatitis C, in what settings other than genito-urinary medicine clinics opportunistic testing for hepatitis C takes place; in how many settings people can be anonymously tested for hepatitis C infection; what plans she has to increase the number of (a) settings and (b) sites where people can be tested; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Surveillance of hepatitis C testing by the Health Protection Agency indicates that opportunistic testing for hepatitis C may take place in a range of health care settings other than genito-urinary medicine clinics, including accident and emergency departments; antenatal clinics; drug services; fertility clinics; gastroenterology departments; general practice surgeries; haematology departments; infectious disease departments; occupational health departments; prisons and renal units.
	Information on the total number of settings where people can be anonymously tested for hepatitis C infection is not held centrally.
	The Department has been running an awareness campaign for health care professionals, which encourages them to offer hepatitis C testing to individuals at increased risk of infection. To support this, the Department has published guidance on hepatitis C testing.
	The provision of hepatitis C testing facilities is a matter for local national health service organisations who are best placed to assess local needs and priorities.

Homeopathic Doctors

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of statutory regulated homeopathic doctors who practise independently who may (a) deregister and (b) close practices as a result of the cost of registering with the Healthcare Commission; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact on (i) patient choice and (ii) safety.

Jane Kennedy: No such estimate has been made. Only homeopaths who are also medical practitioners will be registered with and regulated by the Healthcare Commission. The chairman of the Healthcare Commission has confirmed that the Commission does not have data on how many such practitioners are registered with it.

Hospital Cleaning

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the cleaning of equipment in hospitals which is provided by suppliers of in-hospital patient entertainment services.

Jane Kennedy: There are now over 77,000 bedside television and telephone systems installed in national health service hospitals. The service providers are responsible for ensuring that these systems are cleaned. The cleaning specification and frequency are agreed between the NHS trust and service provider.
	In a small number of hospitals, responsibility for cleaning has been assumed by the hospital or its cleaning contractor.
	The efficiency of the current arrangements for cleaning the systems are being assessed as part of a wider review being carried by the Department as a result of recommendations made by Ofcom in a investigation into the price of making telephone calls to hospital patients it concluded on 17 January 2006.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have contracted infections in hospitals in Gloucestershire in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Available data indicate that healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) affect an estimated 9 per cent. of hospital patients each year.
	Information on all infections is not collected centrally. However, the mandatory surveillance system in operation for certain infections provides data by acute trusts and these results are available on the Department websites as follows:
	
		
			  Website 
		
		
			 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/79/13/04127913.pdf 
			 Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/ll/83/61/04118361.pdf 
			 Glycopeptide resistant enterococci bacteraemia www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/ll/83/59/04118359.pdf 
			 Orthopaedic surgical site infections www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/22/59/04122259.pdf 
		
	
	Data are available on MRSA bloodstream infections from 2001, for Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea and orthopaedic surgical site infections from 2004 and for Glycopeptide resistant enterococci bloodstream infections from 2003.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish her response to the consultation on the review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and when she expects legislation updating the Act will be brought forward.

Caroline Flint: The Department's consultation on the review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 closed on 25 November 2005. We intend to publish a summary of the responses received shortly. Copies of the responses and the summary will be placed in the Library.
	Any plans to introduce legislation will be announced in the Queen's Speech.

Immunisation

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the figures referred to on page 104 of Our health, our care, our say reference five, on the number of general practices opted out of immunisation service provision, broken down by (a) primary care trust and (b) deprivation level.

Caroline Flint: The information is not available in the form requested.
	The analysis looked at the proportion of general medical services (GMS) partnerships in England opting out of childhood immunisation services as at 30 September 2004, by deprivation using the index of multiple deprivation (2004 at primary care trust (PCT) level) and in the spearhead group of PCTs.
	The vast majority of GMS partnerships (93.7 percent.) had not opted out. However, a clear gradient in the proportion of partnerships opting out was seen, with the proportion opting out increasing with increasing deprivation.
	The spearhead group had a higher than average proportion of partnerships opting-out, lying between the most and second most deprived fifth of PCTs.

Life Expectancy

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned on the main health factors affecting differences in life expectancy in different regions.

Caroline Flint: Research has not been commissioned on the main health factors affecting differences in life expectancy between different regions. Research considering variations within regions may have been commissioned at local level.

London Ambulance Service

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) cash terms and (b) percentage change in funding to the London Ambulance Service was in each year since 1995.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not held in the format requested.
	However, the table shows figures for the London Ambulance Service national health service trust for the years 199798 to 200405, the latest year for which data is available. The figures are total income, which includes all income from activities and all other operating income for each year.
	NHS trusts do not normally receive funding directly from the Department but receive income for service provision from primary care trusts and, previously, from health authorities.
	
		
			  Total income ( thousand) Increase year on year (percentage) 
		
		
			 199798 105,814  
			 199899 107,964 2.0 
			 19992000 116,759 8.1 
			 200001 123,578 5.8 
			 200102 135,775 9.9 
			 200203 160,750 18.4 
			 200304 168,508 4.8 
			 200405 192,588 14.3 
		
	
	Note:
	This information is not held prior to 199798.
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

MRSA

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the percentage of (a) the general population and (b) health workers who are carriers of MRSA.

Jane Kennedy: There is only limited evidence on the proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage in the general population or healthcare workers.

MRSA

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to introduce the use of colloidal silver as the standard treatment for MRSA infections.

Jane Kennedy: Clinicians are responsible for determining appropriate therapies for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The Department are not aware of any peer reviewed or clinical trial evidence that colloidal silver is an effective treatment for this or other healthcare associated infections. Although colloidal silver has antimicrobial properties, it is not used as an alternative to antibiotics because of its toxicity.

MRSA

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many MRSA cases there were in (a) Royal Surrey and (b) Frimley Park hospital in Surrey in each of the last three years.

Caroline Flint: The information for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) figures at Frimley Park hospital and Royal Surrey county hospital for each of the last three years is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Last six months 
			 Trust name April 2002-March 2003 April 2003-March 2004 April 2004-March 2005 April 2005-September 2005 
		
		
			 Frimley Park hospital 35 49 29 14 
			 Royal Surrey county hospital 35 28 26 14 
		
	
	Source:
	MRSA mandatory surveillance. Data was produced by the Health Protection Agency Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre for the Department of Health.

NHS Trusts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts paid 95 per cent. of undisputed invoices within contract terms on (a) 60 days, (b) 90 days and (c) 120 days where no terms have been agreed in the last period for which figures are available; what the value of those invoices was in each case; which NHS trusts did not pay 95 per cent. of undisputed invoices within contract terms or 120 days where no terms have been agreed in that period; and what the value of those invoices was.

Jane Kennedy: National health service trusts are required to report on their performance against the better payment practice code (BPPC) in their individual final accounts. The BPPC target stipulates that all NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities must pay 95 per cent. of bills within contract terms or 30 days where no terms have been agreed.
	The data requested are not collected centrally by the Department.
	However, data on both the number of bills paid within the BPPC target and the value of those bills from the 200405 final accounts are available in the Library.

NHS Trusts (Oxfordshire)

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what dates she expects each of the trusts serving Oxfordshire to have (a) determined and (b) published its budget for 200607.

Caroline Flint: Each strategic health authority (SHA) will set their own timetable for agreeing the plans prior to submitting them to the Department.
	Thames Valley SHA expects its trusts and primary care trusts to take an interim budget paper to their boards in March and a final one in April.
	The Department is expecting the SHAs to submit financial plans for 200607 on 20 April 2006.

Nurses

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent nursing vacancies there are in the North West London strategic health authority area.

Jane Kennedy: The table shows national health service three-month vacancies in the North West London strategic health Authority area by organisation for qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff as at 31 March 2005 which are the latest figures available.
	
		Health and Social Care Information Centre Vacancies Survey March 2005 NHS three month vacancies in the North West London strategic health authority area by organisation for qualified nursing, midwifery, and health visiting staff. -- Three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			   Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 
			   March 2005 September 2004 
			   Three month vacancy rate (percentage) Three month vacancy (number) (Staff in post) full-time equivalent Staff in post) Headcount 
		
		
			 North West London strategic health authority area total Q04 4.5 606 12,893 15,774 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 5K5 3.4 11 313 401 
			 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust RV3 1.2 12 976 1,148 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust RQM 8.3 94 1,034 1,284 
			 Baling Hospital NHS Trust RC3 0.0 0 603 734 
			 Baling PCT 5HX 11.7 34 258 370 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 5H1 1.9 3 154 192 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust RQN 10.7 234 1,962 2,210 
			 Harrow PCT 5K6 0.0 0 208 272 
			 Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust RAS 0.0 0 771 1,152 
			 Hillingdon PCT 5AT 0.0 0 373 476 
			 Hounslow PCT 5HY 7.5 13 158 221 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 5LA 13.2 39 258 347 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust RV8 0.7 10 1,427 1,549 
			 North West London SHA Q04 (43) 0 0 0 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust RT3 0.2 2 866 1,148 
			 St Mary's NHS Trust RJ5 0.3 4 1,265 1,567 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust RKL 5.4 73 1,276 1,438 
			 West Middlesex University NHS Trust RFW 3.8 27 699 857 
			 Westminster PCT 5LC 14.6 49 290 408 
		
	
	(43) Zero
	Notes:
	Three month vacancy
	1 Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2005
	2 Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents)
	3 Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post
	4 Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Non-Medical Workforce Census September 2004
	5 Percentages are rounded to one decimal place
	Staff in post
	1 Staff in post data are from the Non-Medical Workforce Census September 2004
	General
	1 Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number
	2 Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates
	3 Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts
	4 Strategic health authority figures are based on Trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of healthcare
	Sources:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Vacancies Survey March 2005
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census September 2004

Obesity

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much has been spent by her Department on campaigns to raise awareness of the health effects of obesity in the last three years;
	(2)  how much has been spent by her Department on campaigns to raise awareness of the health effects of lack of exercise in the last three years.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 7 February 2006
	As committed in Choosing Health, a project team is currently working with stakeholders to develop an obesity social marketing programme for launch in early 2007. The objective will be to prevent unhealthy weight gain in children aged two to 10, by influencing their parents and carers to make healthier choices on food and physical activity.
	More broadly, the 5 A DAY programme, the Food Standards Agency's salt campaign, and Sport England's Everyday Sport programme have helped to raise awareness of healthy nutrition and physical activity. 2 million was spent on the 5 A day programme by the Department in 200506.

PCT Efficiency Savings

Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by whom and on what basis certain primary care trusts have been instructed to bank their target of efficiency savings in the next financial year with the relevant strategic health authority; and for what purposes strategic health authorities are being authorised to extend the funds collected in this way.

Jane Kennedy: The requirement for National Health Service organisations to bank reserves with their strategic health authority (SHA) was announced by the Department in The NHS in England: the operating framework for 2006/07.
	The amount of reserve to be banked and the terms of the agreement will be agreed with their SHA. SHAs are responsible for the financial management of the organisations within their area and for delivering financial planning targets agreed with the Department. Holding financial reserves is a prudent approach to financial management, so the Department is encouraging SHAs to hold reserves because it will help them deliver their financial targets.

PFI Contracts

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used when deciding whether the NHS should indemnify a liability in the negotiation of private finance initiative contracts; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Most of the terms of a national health service private finance (PFI) contract are determined by the NHS standard form PFI contract. This is based on HM Treasury guidance and sound commercial principles.
	There are clauses in the NHS standard form where indemnities are given by the NHS to the private sector contractor. For example, if the NHS causes deliberate damage to the contractor's property, it must indemnify the contractor against the costs. There is a similar indemnity provided by contractors if they cause damage to NHS property. Such terms are commonplace in any commercial contract.
	Occasionally there are circumstances specific to individual schemes in which the NHS provides an indemnity to its contractor. An example would be where there are problems with NHS land. If it is difficult to quantify the risk, but the problem has been created by the NHS, it is often better value for money to offer an indemnity than to ask the private sector to price for the risk. These cases are rare and the NHS does not offer such indemnities without following HM Treasury guidance or taking professional advice. The terms of the contract would also need to be approved by the Department.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department have to introduce specific funding to raise sexual health awareness in areas where rates of diagnosis for sexually transmitted diseases and infections are high.

Caroline Flint: Specifically funded, locally focused awareness raising on sexual transmitted infections is a matter for each primary care trust. The Department already funds the Terrence Higgins Trust and the African HIV policy network to deliver HIV awareness raising campaigns for gay men and African communities, and the Family Planning Association for information resources on sexual health for the general population.

Soft Drinks (Benzene)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Food Standards Agency regarding levels of benzene in soft drinks; whether she plans to introduce a maximum permissible limit for the quantity of benzene found in soft drinks; whether such a limit has existed in the past 30 years; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has informed me that the levels of benzene reported were not a concern for public health. On average people breath in 220 micrograms of benzene each day, which is the equivalent of drinking more than 27 litres of soft drinks containing the highest level of benzene reported. Nevertheless, the FSA is carrying out its own survey of benzene in soft drinks and will consider what action may be needed to further reduce benzene levels. Limits on the amount of sodium benzoate, a food preservative from which the benzene is considered to have been derived, have existed for many years, the most recent limit was introduced in 1996.

Temozolomide

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in England have been prescribed the brain tumour drug temozolomide on the NHS.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the number of patients that have been prescribed temozolomide on the national health service is not available.

Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when Ministers last met stakeholders to discuss costs associated with the implementation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive; and when the next meeting is planned to take place;
	(2)  what estimate the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has made of the likely number of applications for registrations under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Regulation it will need to process prior to the legislation coming into force; and what steps it is taking to minimise the cost burdens for small and medium-sized enterprises involved in this process;
	(3)  how many businesses the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has met to discuss the implementation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Regulation; what issues were raised; and what steps the Agency is taking to address them.

Jane Kennedy: Ministers met stakeholders on a number of occasions during the negotiations on the directive on traditional herbal medicinal products, but have not subsequently had a meeting on the costs associated with implementing the directive. The need for a further meeting will be kept under review in the light of experience of operating the new regulatory arrangements.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has held around 65 meetings with individual companies. The main issue discussed at most of these meetings has been how companies can most effectively target their preparations to register products. The MHRA has also regularly met the industry's herbal forum. In these discussions, subjects covered have included the technical requirements set out in European guidelines as well as a wide range of other specific issues relating to the directive on traditional herbal medicinal products. The focus has been on containing regulatory impact to the minimum necessary to protect public health and to comply with the legislation. Outcomes have included workshops, updates to MHRA's website guidance and advice on how interested parties can raise issues with the relevant European scientific and regulatory committee, the committee on herbal medicinal products.
	The registration scheme for traditional herbal medicines was launched in October 2005. The MHRA has made no estimates of the likely number of applications as many companies have indicated they intend to decide how many products to register in the light of early experience of the scheme. Illustrative figures were given in the final regulatory impact assessment.

Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of fees the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency plans to set in relation to the submission of dossiers for Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Registrations by small and medium-sized enterprises; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The fees for registering traditional herbal medicines are set out in the Medicines for Human Use (Fees Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2005. The fees were set following a public consultation.

Vaccination/Immunisation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the last occasion was on which her Department rejected recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Caroline Flint: In 1986, the then Secretary of State asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to reconsider its recommendation on which groups should be offered hepatitis B vaccination. The JCVI reviewed its list and resubmitted a modified list. This was accepted by the Secretary of State.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Aiming High Programme

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expenditure to date has been on the Aiming High programme; and what assessment she has made of its impact.

Jacqui Smith: The expenditure on the Aiming High Programme in 200405 was 4.8 million and we expect to spend a similar amount in 200506.
	The first 18 months of Aiming High focused on small scale pilot programmes designed to test new approaches to raising minority ethnic achievement. The findings from these pilots, which have been on the whole very positive, have informed the roll out of larger national programmes. These programmes are at their early stages and it is too early to assess their impact. However, the attainment gap between the average for all pupils in maintained schools and previously under-achieving minority ethnic pupils has narrowed since 2003.

Apprenticeships

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people were on (a) modern apprenticeships and (b) other apprenticeship courses in each local authority area in each of the last 20 years.

Phil Hope: The information has been placed in the Libraries.

Asbestos (Schools)

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment her Department has made of the prevalence of the practice of inserting drawing pins and staples into asbestos insulating boards in schools; what steps her Department is taking to communicate the potential health risks associated with this practice to schools; if she will update the asbestos guidance for schools (a) to emphasise that this practice should cease immediately and (b) to reflect the conclusions of the WATCH Committee (WATCH/2006/2) once its final report is published; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: DfES has made no assessment of the practice of inserting drawing pins into asbestos insulating boards but is aware that various assessments were considered by the recent Health and Safety Commission's WATCH Committee. We are waiting for the Watch Committee final report and will be meeting the HSE and other education stakeholders to discuss the issues raised. We will also be considering with the HSE what actions need to be taken in the light of the findings of the Watch Committee. This may include updating HSE and DfES advice concerning asbestos management in schools.

Asylum-seeking Children

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many asylum-seeking children were enrolled in secondary schools in England in (a) 1995, (b) 2000, (c) 2004 and (d) 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Child Protection

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards implementing the recommendations of the second joint chief inspectors' report on arrangements to safeguard children, published on 10 June 2005.

Maria Eagle: The second joint chief inspectors' report on arrangements to safeguard children was published on 14 July 2005. The Government published its response to the recommendations contained in the report on 2 March 2006. The response includes an action plan which sets out the actions the Government will take to address the chief inspectors' recommendations and the timescales for this work. The action plan should be incorporated into the forward work programmes of the relevant Government Departments.

Child Protection

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent advice she has given to further education colleges on criminal record checks (a) on staff employed at the colleges and (b) in relation to work placements of their students.

Bill Rammell: 'Safeguarding Children in Education' was issued in September 2004. Two sets of supplementary guidance followed: 'Supplementary DfES Guidance for Work Experience Organisers' was issued in December 2004 and 'Safeguarding Children: Safer Recruitment and Selection in Education Settings' was issued in June 2005. The latter should be read alongside 'Child Protection: Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Young Persons in the Education Service', which was issued in May 2002. The target audience for this material was Corporations and Principals of Further Education Institutions, as well as Local Education Authorities, Governing Bodies and Headteachers of Schools, and Supply Agencies.
	The 'Child Protection' guidance states that:
	Teachers, other staff and volunteers whose job involves regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children under 18 should obtain an Enhanced Disclosure [from the Criminal Records Bureau]. This includes applicants for teacher training courses, and trainee teachers.
	'People who are selected for appointment to a position in which the normal duties involve regular contact with children under the age of 18 in a further education institution [who does not fall into the categories above] should obtain a Standard Disclosure. This is also the appropriate level of disclosure for a Governor.'
	'Students who are required to work with children as a necessary part of a training course, eg student teachers, nursery nurses, etc, will need to be checked when they are accepted onto the course.'
	'Agencies should obtain an Enhanced Disclosure in respect of all supply teachers they recruit . . . and should obtain a fresh Enhanced Disclosure every 3 years, or earlier if the teacher has a break in service of 3 months or more, or if there are grounds for concern about the person's suitability to work with children.'
	The Supplementary Guidance for Work Experience Organisers gives guidance on the different circumstances in which it would be appropriate to carry out CRB checks of individuals, in organisations where students will be on long-term work experience placements. It makes clear that the responsibility for the CRB checks lies with the LEA, school or FE institution.

Childcare

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards (a) introducing an effective light-touch child care approval scheme, (b) increasing the take-up of formal child care by lower income working families by 50 per cent. by 2008 and (c) increasing the amount of Ofsted-registered child care by 10 per cent. by 2008.

Beverley Hughes: There is a Public Service Agreement (PSA) target to contribute to reducing the proportion of children living in households where no one is working, by 2008. Progress on the components that make up this target is as follows:
	(a) The Childcare Approval Scheme was successfully introduced on 6 April 2005. By 10 March 2006, 1624 carers had been approved.
	(b) The target to increase the take up of formal childcare by lower income working families by 50 per cent. is still provisional as the data against which the baseline for the target is to be set will not be available until the end of March 2006.
	(c) The target to increase the stock of Ofsted-registered childcare by 10 per cent. target has been met. Ofsted data in December 2005 reported an increase in the stock of childcare of 12 per cent.

Children In Care

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have been taken into care in each year since 1976; how many forced adoptions have occurred in each year; how many children have been killed by their carers in each year; and what the budget for child protection was in each year.

Maria Eagle: Information on the number of children who started to be looked after by local authorities since 1976 can be obtained from the Department's website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000615/index.shtml.
	Statistics on 'forced adoptions' are not collected as adoptions are not forced Adoption order applications are made to a court, which decides whether it is in the interests of the child to make the adoption order. Adoption orders may be contested. Figures on contested adoption orders are collected by the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
	Available data are shown as follows:
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 168W, on children that have been killed by their carers.
	Decisions on how much is allocated to child protection budgets are made by local authorities. This information is not collected centrally. Data that are reported on children's social services expenditure are available from the Department of Health's website at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Statistics/StatisticalWorkAreas/StatisticaIExpenditure/fs/en.
	
		Number of adoption orders, and percentage of contestedadoption orders -- EnglandNumber and percentage
		
			  Number of adoption orders Number of contested adoption orders Contested 
		
		
			 1994 6,326 1,676 26 
			 1995 5,317 1,224 23 
			 1996 4,936 876 18 
			 1997 4,266 866 20 
			 1998 4,675 944 20 
			 1999 3,962 984 25 
			 2000 4,438 980 22 
			 2001 4,452 876 20 
			 2002 4,120 922 22 
			 2003 4,713 1,170 25 
			 2004 4,539 850 19 
		
	
	Source :
	DCA Judicial Statistics  Private Law Sampler Forms

Cognitive Ability

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children achieved cognitive ability testing scores at (a) the standard level, (b) above the standard level and (c) below the standard level at (i) Key Stage 1 and (ii) Key Stage 2 in each year since the tests were introduced.

Jacqui Smith: The information is not held centrally.

Connexions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what role the Connexions Agency plays in admitting students into (a) the workplace, (b) universities and (c) modern apprenticeships; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 13 March 2006
	Connexions provides information, advice, guidance and support to all 1319 year olds to help them enter appropriate further and higher education, training and work. Personal Advisers engage with young people to provide guidance on learning and career options, with a view to raising the aspirations and attainment of each young person. Personal Advisers also work with and support education and training institutions and employers in providing opportunities for young people. We have set out our plans to improve information, advice and guidance for young people, including clear minimum expectations and new quality standards, in Youth Matters. This will build on good practice in Connexions.

Deaf Children

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to raise the educational attainment of deaf children.

Maria Eagle: The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice provides advice to local authorities, and schools on their statutory duties to identify, assess and make provision for children who have special educational needs, including children who are deaf. The Code sets out a graduated approach to providing support. Many children who are deaf will have statements of SEN. All statements must be reviewed at least annually. The purpose of the review is to consider children's progress, to ensure they are achieving desired outcomes and, if necessary, to amend their statements to reflect newly identified needs and provision.
	In addition, the development of the New Relationship with Schools brings a focus on how well schools meet the needs of all their pupils. All schools will carry out an annual self-evaluation and publish a single plan setting out their priorities for improvement in which they will need to show how all their pupils are achieving. This process will highlight any gaps in achievement between different groups of children, which will then be discussed with a locally appointed School Improvement Partner.
	Our White Paper 'Higher Standards, Better Schools for all' published in October 2005, which builds on 'Removing Barriers to Achievement' published in February 2004, promotes a more effectively tailored education for all children with special education needs by increasing the sharing of expertise between special and mainstream schools, by equipping the work force with appropriate skills, knowledge, awareness and confidence and by promoting more effective measurement of, and accountability for, the progress made by pupils with SEN across a wide range of abilities. The White Paper also set out our plans for personalised learning. These include providing targeted support for groups of children who are at risk of under achieving, including those with SEN. We will spend an additional 565 million by 200708 to support schools to tailor teaching to the needs of all their pupils.

Delegated Budgetary Powers

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) secondary and (b) primary schools in England had their delegated budgetary powers removed by local education authorities in each year since 2001.

Jacqui Smith: Under Section 51 and schedule 15 to the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Secretary of State has been notified of 11 schools since 2001, where budgetary powers have been suspended by the local education authority. The breakdown of the number of primary and secondary schools in each year where budgets have been removed under these powers is as follows:
	
		
			  Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 2001 1 2 
			 2002 1 1 
			 2003 1 0 
			 2004 0 3 
			 2005 1 1 
		
	
	The Department has no record of suspensions under section 17 of the Act, but believes them to be more numerous.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2006, Official Report, column 1921W, on departmental assets, how many of the laptops replaced in the last 12 months were replaced due to (a) breakage and (b) normal wear and tear.

Maria Eagle: The Department does not record the information necessary to provide the required clarification of the figure for broken laptops.

Early Years Programme

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on allocation of Early Years Programme funds between voluntary and statutory bodies in relation to children under five years who use each kind of service in equal parts during the week.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 2 March 2006
	It is a matter for individual local authorities to determine arrangements for funding private voluntary and independent (pvi) providers to deliver the free nursery education entitlement. In meeting their statutory responsibilities to secure sufficient provision they must have regard to guidance from the Secretary of State. That guidance makes clear the importance of a thriving pvi sector to the provision of sufficient, high quality child care.
	The recently updated guidance in the Code of Practice on the Provision of Free Nursery Education Places for Three and Four Year Olds, which comes into effect from 1 April 2006 encourages local authorities, wherever practicable, to apportion funding pro rata in cases where a child takes up the free entitlement in a combination of a maintained and pvi provider.

East Riding (Education Services)

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils being educated in the East Riding of Yorkshire live outside the county's local education authority boundary; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been provided in the following table.
	
		Percentage of pupils(44) educated within the East Riding of Yorkshire residing outside of the local authority (LA) boundary
		
			  Number of pupils in schools in LA Number of pupils in residence in other LAs attending schools in the LA Percentage of pupils in residence in other LAs attending schools in the LA 
		
		
			 Primary(45) 22,071 888 4.0 
			 Secondary(46) 20,344 1,774 8.7 
			 Special(47) 115 3 2.6 
			 Total 42,530 2,665 6.3 
		
	
	(44) Includes pupils aged 5 to 15 years, solely registered or main registration of dually registered pupils, excludes boarders.
	(45) Includes middle deemed primary
	3 Includes secondary, middle deemed secondary, Academies and City Technology Colleges.
	(46) Includes special and non-maintained special.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census 2005

Eastern European Students

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to assist the integration of students from Eastern Europe into English schools.

Jacqui Smith: Local authorities have a duty to ensure that all children of compulsory school age have access to education, regardless of their nationality.
	Local authorities receive additional funding from the Department in the form of the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG). This grant is ring-fenced and must be used by schools to help raise the attainment of ethnic minority pupils who underachieve and to target help for those pupils for whom English is an additional language.
	To ensure the educational needs of Eastern European children are taken into account, local authorities are encouraged to develop local policies and procedures to facilitate support within local schools.

Education (Peterborough)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding is planned to be made available to schools in Peterborough for anti-bullying campaigns in each of the next five years.

Jacqui Smith: Ring-fenced funding for anti bullying campaigns is not made available on either a local authority or school by school basis. Rather it is a matter for schools and local authorities to decide how much of their budget they devote to this important work.
	Support for anti-bullying work is embedded in the behaviour and attendance strands of the national strategies which have at least one consultant in place in each local authority. In addition, support is also provided through DfES funded anti-bullying alliance coordinators in each Government Office region.
	At a national level the Department has funded a number of initiatives to tackle bullying. Since 1997 this has included events to disseminate good practice, plus development of guidance and resources for schools. We have supported an award scheme to share and celebrate the excellent work of schools and young people. We have funded the voluntary sector to embed effective practice and offer training and support to schools. We have run public information campaigns encouraging children to 'tell someone' and to support their friends, as well as providing information and support to parents. We have funded the anti-bullying alliance to continue its work coordinating support for local authority and voluntary sector anti bullying work on a regional basis, developing new approaches to bullying, and working with schools to promote best practice directly and through anti-bullying week and other events.

Education Provision (Hendon)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in Hendon provide extended school hours; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Good progress is being made on extended schools with 4,700 schools, thus far, indicating their willingness to work on developing extended services. This includes 18 schools in the Barnet local authority area, of which four are in the Hendon area, that are working towards delivering a core offer of extended services by September 2006. This Government want all schools to provide access to a core offer of extended services by 2010, with half of primary schools and a third of secondary schools doing so by 2008. We want to see at least 2,500 schools providing access to the core offer by September 2006. The core offer, which should be available to all parents and pupils of the school, comprises: high quality child care available 8 am to 6 pm year round; a varied menu of study support activities; parenting support programmes; swift and easy referral to a wide range of specialised support services; and wider community access. It will be for individual local authorities, in discussion with all schools in their area, to take a strategic approach to developing access to the core offer in each year.
	On 29 September 2005 my Department published its report on the baseline survey of extended services in schools which it commissioned earlier in the year. The survey showed that nationally the vast majority of schools were providing access to some form of extended activity. The survey did not provide figures at local authority or ward level.

Education Provision (Hendon)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Hendon were inspected by Ofsted in the last 12 months; what the outcome of each inspection was; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Maurice Smith has written to the hon. Friend and a copy of his reply has been placed in the Library.
	Letter from Maurice Smith, dated 8 March 2006
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	You asked which schools in Hendon were inspected by Ofsted in the last 12 months, what was the outcome of each inspection and to make a statement.
	Inspectors have made a judgement about schools' overall effectiveness since January 2000. Until July 2005 this judgement was made using a seven point scale: excellent, very good, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, poor and very poor. Since September 2005 the judgement has been made using a four point scale: outstanding, good, satisfactory and inadequate. This response relates to schools inspected between January and December 2005. During this period, one secondary school and four primary schools were inspected in the parliamentary constituency of Hendon.
	The information is shown in the tables below:
	
		Schools in Hendon inspected between January to July 2005
		
			  URN  School name  Phase Overall effectiveness  Last inspection date 
		
		
			 101278 Fairway Primary School Primary Very good 21 February 2005 
			 101283 Goldbeaters Primary School Primary Satisfactory 4 July 2005 
		
	
	
		Schools in Hendon inspected between September andDecember 2005
		
			  URN  School name  Phase Overall effectiveness  Last inspection date 
		
		
			 101277 Edgware Infant School Primary Good 28 September 2005 
			 101360 St Mary's CofE High School Secondary Inadequate(47) 14 October 2005 
			 130935 The Hyde School Primary Inadequate(48) 28 September 2005 
		
	
	(47) This school was given a notice to improve after a period in special measures.
	(48) This school was given a notice to improve following a period when the school was designated as having serious weaknesses
	There are 40 schools in Hendon and the figures above do not give a full reflection of the quality of schools in the constituency. Between January 2000 and December 2004, 30 schools not included in the tables above were inspected. Of these two were judged to be excellent, nine were very good, twelve were good and six were satisfactory. One school was poor and this was placed into special measures and was removed 19 months later.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jacqui Smith and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Education to Employment Programme

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evaluation she has undertaken of the Education to Employment Programme.

Phil Hope: Entry to Employment (E2E) is the main programme for young people not yet ready for an Apprenticeship; a job or further learning. It was implemented across England in August 2003.
	The Adult Learning Inspectorate, most recent review of E2E in February 2006 concluded that the significant investment in E2E is paying dividends.
	In addition to the work of the Inspectorate, the Learning and Skills Council keeps the E2E programme performance under continuing review.

Education White Paper

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will place in the Library all analyses commissioned by her Department in relation to the Government's White Paper on Education before the Education Bill is presented to the House.

Jacqui Smith: A wide range of research was used to inform the White Paper and the policies contained within it.
	All the research commissioned by the department is published on the department's website.

Educational Attainment

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of (a) children in receipt of free school meals, (b) pupils with special educational needs and (c) all children aged 11 years at the end of the 200405 academic year achieved (i) level 4 and (ii) level 5 at Key Stage 2 in (A) reading, (B) writing, (C) mathematics and (D) reading, writing and mathematics, broken down by type of school.

Jacqui Smith: The tables give the figures requested.
	
		Proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, with special educational needs and all children aged 11 years at the end of the 200405 academic year achieving Level 4 and Level 5 at Key Stage 2 in reading, writing, mathematics and reading, writing and mathematics combined. -- Achievements at Key Stage 2 Level 4 and above and Level 5 in 2005 for all students
		
			  Reading Writing 
			  Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ 
		
		
			 Maintained mainstream 581,513 85 42 581,539 63 15 
			 Special 5,482 5 1 5,481 1 0 
			 All maintained schools 587,015 84 42 587,040 63 15 
		
	
	
		
			  Maths Reading, writing  maths 
			  Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ 
		
		
			 Maintained mainstream 583,021 76 30 581,265 57 9 
			 Special 6,110 3 0 5,481 1 0 
			 All maintained schools 589,151 75 30 586,766 56 9 
		
	
	
		Achievements at Key Stage 2 Level 4 and above and Level 5 in 2005 for students eligible for free school meals
		
			  Reading Writing 
			  Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ 
		
		
			 Maintained mainstream 98,551 70 22 98,551 45 7 
			 Special 1,933 6 1 1,932 2 0 
			 All maintained schools 100,496 69 21 100,495 44 7 
		
	
	
		
			  Maths Reading, writing  maths 
			  Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ 
		
		
			 Maintained mainstream 98,551 58 14 98,505 36 3 
			 Special 2,168 4 0 1,932 1 0 
			 All maintained schools 101,090 57 14 100,449 36 3 
		
	
	
		Achievements at Key Stage 2 Level 4 and above and Level 5 in 2005 for students with special educational needs
		
			  Reading Writing 
			  Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ 
		
		
			 Maintained mainstream 127,549 52 10 127,571 22 1 
			 Special 5,433 5 1 5,432 1 0 
			 All maintained schools 133,002 51 9 133,023 21 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Maths Reading, writing  maths 
			  Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ Eligible Percentage Level 4+ Percentage Level 5+ 
		
		
			 Maintained mainstream 128,282 39 6 127,477 14 1 
			 Special 6,056 3 0 5,432 1 0 
			 All maintained schools 134,358 37 6 132,929 14 1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Pupils eligible for Key Stage 2 assessment includes pupils with missing results.
	2. - indicates non-zero less than 0.5%.
	3. Maintained mainstream schools include results from Community School (CY), Voluntary aided school (VA), Voluntary controlled school (VC), Foundation school (FD), City Technology College (CTC) and Academy (AC). Special schools include results from Community Special school (CYS) and Foundation special school (FDS).
	4. Only LA maintained schools whose results are published in the Achievement  Attainment Tables are included in this analysis.

Employer Training Pilots

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2005, Official Report, column 601W, on the National Employer Training Programme, how many of the companies who participated in the employer training pilots employed (a) under 50, (b) between 50 and 249 and (c) 250 or more staff.

Phil Hope: At the end of the second year of the pilots almost 12,000 workplaces were involved in the 12 Phase 1 and Phase 2 pilots. Take-up was stronger in the second year than in the first. Some 10 per cent. of eligible employers were involved-12 per cent. in the Phase 1 pilots and 8.5 per cent. in Phase 2. Levels of employer take-up varied significantly by pilot area.
	Seventy per cent of the establishments involved employed fewer than 50 people, 19 per cent. had between 50 and 249 employees and 11 per cent. employed at least 250. The pilots attracted almost half the eligible large employers in their area.
	This equates to volumes of:
	
		
			 Volumes Employers 
		
		
			 Less than 50 8,400 
			 50249 2,280 
			 250 or over 1,320 
		
	
	The most recent management information available (February 2006) illustrates the progress made since then with 29,141 employers involved. Of these 19,870 employ fewer than 50 people; 5,280 employ between 50 and 249 people; 3,991 employ more the 250 people.
	The final evaluation report for Employer Training Pilots is expected later in spring 2006.

Faith Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of faith schools are (a) comprehensive, (b) secondary modern and (c) grammar schools.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained secondary schools: number of faith schools by admissions policy (49)January 2005England
		
			  Number of faith schools 
			  Number Percentage(50) 
		
		
			 Grammar 21 3.5 
			 Modern 12 2.0 
			 Comprehensive 424 71.6 
			 Other (51) 135 22.8 
		
	
	(49) Admissions policy as designated In the Secondary Achievement and Attainment Tables
	(50) Number of schools of type expressed as a percentage of ail secondary faith schools
	(51) Schools whose main criterion for offering a place is either technical or religion.

Foreign Students

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new foreign students have started school in England in each of the past 10 years, broken down by country of origin.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Foundation Schools

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial obligations will lie with (a) the local education authority and (b) the foundation school in the event of a school within a PF1, PF2 or local education partnership becoming a foundation school.

Jacqui Smith: Foundation schools will be funded by their local authority on exactly the same basis as other local schools.
	The governing body of a local authority school which chooses to change status to become a foundation school is the same body corporate as the governing body of the predecessor school, and therefore its contractual benefits and obligations do not change where the school changes status. Where the school is part of a PF1 contract, whether procured through a local education partnership or otherwise, the local authority has a contractual agreement to pay the unitary charge for the contract to the private sector partner. The school's contribution to the unitary charge will have been determined, among other things, in the individual agreement its governing body has made with the local authority before the PF1 contract was signed, and this commitment will continue for the governing body when the school has acquired foundation status.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in (a) Denton and Reddish constituency, (b) Stockport metropolitan borough and (c) Tameside metropolitan borough continued into (i) further and (ii) higher education in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education in England at the end of 2004 was estimated to be 74.2 per cent.the highest ever rate. Figures on participation in further education by young people are not available for parliamentary constituencies, but are available for local authoritiesincluding Stockport and Tameside, 2003 is the latest available year. The figures are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   16-year-olds in full-time education 2003 16-year-olds in all education (including part-time and work-based learning) 2003 
		
		
			 Stockport 2,700 3,100 
			 Tameside 2,000 2,400 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100
	Figures on the number of 18-year-old students enrolled on undergraduate courses at UK Higher Education institutions are available for parliamentary constituencies. The latest figures are for 2004/05, and are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Students aged 18 enrolled on undergraduate courses at UK Higher Education institutions 2004/05 
		
		
			 Denton and Reddish 180 
			 Stockport 955 
			 Tameside 520 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Further and Higher Education

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she has taken to increase (a) the quality of education provision and (b) examination success rates in the further education college sector since July 2004.

Bill Rammell: We are fully committed to raising standards in further education colleges and will reward high quality and take firm action where standards are not being met. All colleges are required to annually self assess and agree challenging improvement targets in their development plans with the Learning and Skills Council.
	Considerable progress has been made in the past few years and standards in further education have improved. The most recent annual report summarising inspections showed that over 91 per cent. of teaching in further education was judged satisfactory. College success rates have risen from 59 per cent. in 2000/01 to 72 per cent. in 2003/04 and we have set a new target of 76 per cent. to be achieved by 2007/08.
	We have also announced plans to establish a new Quality Improvement Agency by April 2006, which will take the lead role, working with partners, to develop a Quality Improvement Strategy bringing together the full range of improvement activity across the sector. This will be based on the principle of colleges and other providers having primary responsibility for their own self improvement.

GCSEs

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards ensuring that (a) by 2008 60 per cent. of those aged 16 years achieve the equivalent of five GCSEs at grades A*-C, (b) at least 25 per cent. of pupils achieve this standard by 2006 and (c) at least 30 per cent. achieve this standard by 2008.

Jacqui Smith: The Department's public service agreement targets for Key Stage 4 are: by 2008, 60 per cent. of those aged 16 to achieve the equivalent of five or more A*-C GCSEs or equivalent; and in all schools, at least 25 per cent. of pupils to achieve this standard by 2006; and 30 per cent. by 2008.
	Good progress has been made towards achievement of these targets. (a) In 2005, 56.3 per cent. of 15-year-olds achieved five or more GCSEs or equivalenta 2.6 percentage point increase on 2004 results and an increase of 11.2 percentage points compared with 1997. Over 67,000 more pupils are now achieving at this level than did so in 1997.
	There has been a further significant drop in the number of schools below floor targets. 2005 results show:
	(b) 112 schools are below the 25 per cent. floor target, down from 186 schools in 2004 and 616 in 1997;
	(c) 232 schools are below the 30 per cent. floor target, down from 343 schools in 2004, and down from 896 schools in 1997.
	The Department has a number of initiatives to ensure that schools receive the resources, advice and support that they need to raise attainment further at Key Stage 4. The Key Stage 3 National Strategy has extended to become a full Secondary National Strategy for School Improvement designed to raise standards, particularly in the core subjects, for all secondary school pupils. It aims to introduce excellent teaching and learning practices into every classroom through CPD, teaching materials and consultancy support. In addition, the Secondary Performance and Raising Achievement Transforming Learning (RATL) Projects draw on the expertise of successful schools and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust to work in partnership with schools that while not below the floor target have nevertheless been underperforming in value added terms.
	The Education and Inspections Bill published in February 2006 seeks to improve standards further, particularly by providing significant new incentives for schools to tailor education to the needs of every child and focus on the basics of English and mathematics.

GCSEs

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of pupils achieved (a) five GCSEs A*-C and (b) GCSEs A*-C including English and mathematics in grammar schools which were (i) community schools, (ii) foundation schools, (iii) voluntary aided schools and (iv) voluntary controlled (A) with and (B) without a specialism in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is outlined in the table.
	
		Table 1:2005 amended GCSE results for grammar schools, by school type and specialist status
		
			   Number of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C Number of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C including English and Maths Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C including English and Maths. 
		
		
			 Community Specialist 3,608 97.5 3,547 95.8 
			  Non-specialist 1,991 96.7 1,963 95.4 
			 Foundation Specialist 8,651 97.9 8,546 96.7 
			  Non-specialist 1,559 98.4 1,525 96.3 
			 Voluntary Aided Specialist 2,630 98.4 2,600 97.3 
			  Non-specialist 1,239 98.4 1,223 97.1 
			 Voluntary Controlled Specialist 1,239 98.3 1,230 97.6 
			  Non-specialist 935 97.5 926 96.6

Grades

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards ensuring that at least 50 per cent. of pupils achieve level 5 or above in English, mathematics and science by 2008.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has a number of initiatives to ensure that schools receive the resources, advice and support that they need to raise attainment further for secondary pupils. In the four years since its introduction the model of support and challenge provided through the Key Stage 3 strategy, now extended to the Secondary National Strategy, has been very effective. The Strategy has made great gains in improving the life chances of 14 year olds.
	
		Number and percentage of schools with less than 50 per cent. of pupils achieving Level 5 or above in English, mathematics and science
		
			  Number of schools below the floor target Percentage of schools below the floor target 
		
		
			 2005(52) n/a n/a 
			 2004 601 19 
			 2003(53) 592 19 
		
	
	(52) Data are not available for 2005. This data will be published in the revised Key Stage 3 Statistical First Release on 29th March 2006.
	(53) 2003 is the baseline against which the target is monitored.
	Figures on the number and percentage of schools where less than 50 per cent. of pupils achieved Level 5 or above in English, maths and science are only available for 2003 and 2004. 2005 figures will be published in the revised Key Stage 3 Statistical First Release on 29 March 2006 on the Departments research and statistics gateway at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000644/index.shtml. These figures will have been checked by schools and include any amendments requested as part of the Secondary (KS3) Achievement and Attainment Tables checking exercise.

Grades

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards ensuring that by 2007 (a) 85 per cent. of 14-year-olds achieve Level 5 or above in English, mathematics and information and communication technology and (b) 80 per cent. of 14-year-olds achieve Level 5 or above in science.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is shown as follows.
	
		Key Stage 3percentage of pupils in all schools in England achieving Level 5 or above in the Key Stage 3 tests 
		
			  English Mathematics Science ICT 
		
		
			 1997 57 60 60 50 
			 1998 64 59 56 56 
			 1999 64 62 55 58 
			 2000 64 65 59 62 
			 2001 65 66 66 65 
			 2002 67 67 67 66 
			 2003 69 71 68 67 
			 2004 71 73 66 67 
			 2005(54) 74 74 70 69 
		
	
	(54) 2005 results are based on provisional data. These results will be checked by schools as part of the annual Achievement and Attainment Tables checking exercise and may change when the revised figures are published.
	Progress towards achievement of the Government's Key Stage 3 targets has been encouraging with increases in each of the core subjects. The 2005 provisional results show: 74 per cent. of pupils achieved Level 5 and above in English; 74 per cent. in mathematics; 70 per cent. in science; and 69 per cent. in ICT. The corresponding figures for 2004 are: 71 per cent.; 73 per cent.; 66 per cent. and 67 per cent. respectively. Attainment in these subjects is at the highest ever levels with increases of 17 percentage points in English; 14 percentage points in mathematics; 10 percentage points in science and 19 percentage points in ICT since 1997.
	The Department has a number of initiatives to ensure that schools receive the resources, advice and support that they need to raise attainment further for secondary pupils. In the four years since its introduction the model of support and challenge provided through the Key Stage 3 strategy, now extended to the Secondary National Strategy, has been very effective. The strategy has made great gains in improving the life chances of 14-year-olds.

Grades

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards ensuring that by 2008 the proportion of schools in which fewer than 65 per cent. of pupils achieve level 4 or above in mathematics and English is reduced by 40 per cent. against 2004 levels.

Jacqui Smith: Good progress has been made towards achieving this target. Compared with 2003 (baseline year), there has been an overall reduction of 34 per cent. (978 schools) in the number of schools achieving below 65 per cent. in English and 22 per cent. (770 schools) in the number of schools achieving below this level in mathematics.
	The Government's White PaperHigher Standards, Better Schools for Allset out our commitment to an extra investment of 565 million by 2007/08 to support personalisation in primary and secondary schools, focusing particularly on helping children who have fallen behind in English and mathematics. A further 60 million will be available in each of the next two years to provide effective one-to-one and small group tuition for the lowest attaining pupils.
	
		Number and percentage of schools in which fewer than 65 per cent. of pupils achieve Level 4 or above in English or mathematics
		
			  English Mathematics 
			  Number of schools below the floor target Percentage of schools below the floor target Number of schools below the floor target Percentage of schools below the floor target 
		
		
			 2005 1,871 14 2,800 21 
			 2004 2,235 17 3,108 23 
			 (55)2003 2,849 21 3,570 26 
		
	
	(55) 2003 is the baseline against which the target is monitored.

Grades

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards 85 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieving Level 4 in English and mathematics by 2006.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is shown as follows:
	
		Key Stage 2percentage of pupils in all schools in England achieving Level 4 or above in the Key Stage 2 tests
		
			  English Mathematics 
		
		
			 1997 63 62 
			 1998 64 58 
			 1999 71 69 
			 2000 75 72 
			 2001 75 71 
			 2002 75 73 
			 2003 75 73 
			 2004 78 74 
			 2005(56) 79 75 
		
	
	(56) 2005 results are based on provisional data. All other results are based on final data.
	The latest figures indicate that performance levels in Primary Schools in English and mathematics are at their highest ever. Since 1997, the proportion of 11-year-olds achieving the target Level 4 and above as measured by the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests has increased by 16 percentage points to 79 per cent. in English and by 13 percentage points to 75 per cent. in mathematics.

Housing Expansion

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of additional (a) secondary and (b) primary schools that will be required in Peterborough to meet the planned expansion of housing.

Jacqui Smith: We rely on local authorities to estimate whether additional secondary or primary schools are required to meet planned expansions of housing. This is because local authorities are best placed to calculate the additional number of children of school age, to evaluate the effect of other demographic changes, and to compare the resulting totals with the actual and potential capacity of existing schools.
	Formulaic capital funding is notified in advance to local authorities, and is responsive to forecast changes in school population which will result from expansion of housing. Specifically, Modernisation funding is allocated on the basis of pupil numbers and the relative condition and suitability need of each authority's school buildings. In addition, New Pupil Places funding is allocated on the basis of the actual number of school pupils in each authority, and the forecast growth in pupil numbers. These funding streams are calculated using local authorities' own forecasts. Where an authority is facing exceptional circumstances because of the rate of growth of pupil numbers, then the Department periodically operates a safety-valve mechanism for additional funding. Guidance on these funding streams can be found on the website http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=9178.
	In addition to the formulaic capital funding described above, schools are allocated Devolved Formula Capital (DFC) to meet their individual priorities. This is based on a per school and a per pupil formula. Guidance on DFC can be found on the website
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinanceandbuilding/funding/capitalinvestment/typesoffunding/nds/
	Local authorities may also have the capacity to raise their own additional funding through Section 106 receipts. This is a scheme whereby housing developers provide funding to the local authority which can be used for extra school places.
	Capital allocations to Peterborough borough council and its schools, also Voluntary Aided Schools, for the next two years are set out in the table below. As well as formulaic funding, the local authority and Voluntary Aided schools received Targeted Capital Fund allocations for 200607 which will be paid out in the years 200607 to 200809:
	
		 million
		
			  200607 200708 
		
		
			 Local authority schools   
			 Modernisationsecondary 1.0 1.0 
			 Modernisationprimary 1.0 1.0 
			 New pupil places 0.6 0.6 
			 Other 0.3 0.3 
			 Devolved Formula Capital 3.1 (57)3.3 
			 Targeted Capital Fund 6.7  
			
			 Voluntary Aided schools   
			 Programme 0.6 0.6 
			 Devolved Formula Capital 0.5 (57)0.5 
			 Targeted Capital Fund 13.0  
			 Total 26.8 7.3 
		
	
	(57) indicative

IT Systems

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department allocated for school IT systems in (a) Lancashire and (b) West Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The Department does not hold information on specific allocation figures for IT systems within Lancashire Local Authority (LA) or the constituency West Lancashire. Funding for schools IT systems is included within the overall ICT funding allocation figure for the LA.
	The Department does not hold figures for ICT funding allocated to LA in 1997; however ICT funding allocations for Lancashire LA since 1998 are detailed in 'Funding for ICT in Schools in England' which is available in the House Library.

Learning and Skills Council

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional responsibilities local Learning and Skills Council offices will assume in rural areas as part of the proposed re-structuring.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is embarking on a major transformation programme to make it a more dynamic and effective organisation. At a local level the LSC proposes to create 148 local partnership yeams made up of experienced education and training professionals who will work with key partners and stakeholders to tackle local learning and skills needs in rural and urban areas. They will know their area inside-out, and will ensure that properly funded learning and training is available to meet the needs of both individuals and employers locally, whilst also taking into account national priorities, as set out in the LSC's national guidance on Planning for Success.
	The details of the re-structuring proposals and their effect on local offices, including those in rural areas, are a matter for the LSC. Mark Haysom, the Council's chief executive, has written to my hon. Friend with further information. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 9 March 2006
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding what additional responsibilities local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) offices will assume in rural areas as part of the proposed restructuring.
	The LSC is well on the way to implementing a major transformation programme to make it a more dynamic and effective organisation. We have ensured that the special factors of rurality have been taken into account in planning and delivery of post-16 education and skills within the new LSC, particularly through the new local partnership teams which will be experts on, and advocates for, their local area.
	I have laid out in the annex some of the detail of how the LSC will work at the local level once we have transformed. This covers how local partnership teams and economic development teams in each of 42 local areas will provide strategic and operation delivery for the LSC.
	I am very happy to provide any further information if required, on how we are moving the LSC forward to better meet the needs of learners and employers.
	ANNEX
	The New Learning and Skills Councilhow it all works in detail at the Local level
	Each of our 47 local councils will be supported by a dedicated LSC Area Director and will oversee the development and delivery of a local area plan. Local councils will provide leadership to local providers and partners, challenging the executive 'on the inside' and acting as advocates for the LSC and for learning 'on the outside'. Employer-led, local councils link the LSC into the business community, championing employer and learner needs and challenging us to deliver innovative solutions.
	42 local area teams (made up of local partnership teams and economic development teams) are the strategic and operational building block for the LSCthe point at which our national and regional strategies and priorities translate into local delivery. Note: in five cases a single Area Director supports two local councils(1) Tyne and Wear/Northumberland; (2) Tees Valley/County Durham; (3) Berkshire/Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire; (4) Somerset/Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole and (5) Shropshire/Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
	Each local area team will look across the range of partnerships, challenging and supporting teams, generating and spreading best practice. They lead on the economic development priorities of their areas, which often cut across geographic boundaries. And they provide the strategic interface for key partners such as Children's Trusts, Local Strategic Partnerships, and City-regions which operate above partnership level. Their area-wide scope and strategy provide the necessary coherence for 1419 learning, skill priorities and adult learning at a local level.
	The 148 local partnership teams are the operational focus of the LSC. They are the institutional and provider interfaceresponsible for the development and delivery of area-wide plans at grassroots level.
	The local partnership teams will focus on transforming the range and quality of learning available in geographically-defined local areas. They will be small teams, flexible and mobile, working in, and across, their local communities. And they will be experts on, and advocates for, their local area: understanding and championing the varied needs of their local learners, employers and communities, and brokering collaborative solutions to meet these. They will have the power to make things happen, to lead and influence change within the LSC and with partners, colleges and providers.
	Specifically they will develop and lead strategic relationships with delivery partners (colleges, schools and training providers). This will include:
	procuring high quality learning to meet national and regional priorities and targets in a local context
	negotiating and managing performance against development plans and contractswithdrawing from poor provision where appropriate
	developing new provision to meet gaps
	driving up demand for learning amongst young people.
	To do their job effectively, the local partnership teams will also have to influence the thinking of local authorities, Children's Trusts, Local Strategic Partnerships and local MPs. They will be passionate about learning and skills, driving forward collaboration, informing Local Area Agreements and acting as skills advisors for local authorities to get real buy-in to partnership activity across the local patch.
	Working alongside the partnership teams will be 35 economic development teams and regional specialists whose objective is to place learning and skills at the heart of economic development and regeneration in a given region. They will work flexibly across local and regional boundaries in pursuit of a better fit between learning and skills supply and demand, and draw in specialist sector advice and support where necessary. An important element of their work will be putting in place the training .needed, by those not currently working, both to help them secure sustainable employment and to furnish the skills local employers need.
	Economic development teams will have a strong influencing role too, particularly with, Regional Development Agencies, developers, local authorities, Jobcentre Plus, regeneration partnerships and employers. They will demonstrate the vital importance of skills to increasing economic competitiveness and social inclusion.

Modern Apprenticeships

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the total numbers undertaking (a) engineering, (b) construction, (c) motor industry, (d) plumbing and (e) electro-technical sector (i) Advanced and (ii) Foundation Modern Apprenticeships in England in 2005 were women.

Jacqui Smith: There are over 180 different apprenticeships (formerly called Foundation Modern Apprenticeship) or Advanced Apprenticeship (formerly called Advanced Modern Apprenticeship) frameworks on offer to potential learners. The list is growing and a directory of apprenticeships is maintained on the apprenticeships website administered by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC): http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/partners/frameworks/apprenticeships/default.htm
	There exists no definitive classification of frameworks that corresponds to the sectors requested, and to some extent any classification would be arbitrary given the potential for sectors to overlap, between engineering and construction especially. For this reason the figures supplied as follows are presented at the level of individual frameworks, and grouped tentatively into the non-overlapping 'sectors' requested. Figures show the total numbers in learning during 2004/05 for each framework and the proportion that were women.
	
		
			  Sector  Framework Total number of apprentices Of which: women (Percentage) Total number of advanced apprentices Of which: women (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Engineering Engineering Manufacture 14,690 5.5 22,132 2.8 
			  Marine Industry 216 1.9 723 4.1 
			  Agriculture and Garden Machinery 571 0.7 300 0.3 
			  Engineering Construction 11 9.1 760 1.7 
			  Manufacturing operationEngineering 2,212 9.8 10 10.0 
			  Telecommunications 890 13.4 3,438 13.2 
			  Chemicals Industry 52 25.0 242 14.5 
			  Steel Industry 94 3.2 136 11.0 
			  Oil and Gas Extraction 41 0.0 23 0.0 
			  Rail 103 0.0 357 2.8 
			   
			 Construction Construction 31,219 0.9 6,498 1.4 
			  Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration 1,279 0.8 1,732 0.3 
			  Gas Industry 119 1.7 1,305 1.6 
			  Glass 1,319 1.8 268 2.2 
			  Building Services Engineers 3 0.0 190 0.5 
			   
			 Motor Industry Motor Industry 11,942 1.6 19,760 1.5 
			   
			 Plumbing Plumbing 7,327 0.9 4,270 0.5 
			   
			 Electro-technical sector National Electro-technical industry 3,341 0.6 15,457 0.5 
			  Electricity supply industry 105 1.0 564 1.2 
			  Electrical and electronic servicing 56 0.0 126 1.6

Modern Apprenticeships

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many women applied for scientific and technical positions in (a) Advanced and (b) Foundation Modern Apprenticeships in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: There are over 180 different Apprenticeship (formerly called Foundation Modern Apprenticeship) or Advanced Apprenticeship (formerly called Advanced Modem Apprenticeship) frameworks on offer to potential learners. Figures for applications to apprenticeships are not held centrally.

Modern Apprenticeships

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many men undertook Modern Apprenticeship courses in (a) early years care and (b) education in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: There are over 180 different Apprenticeship (formerly called Foundation Modern Apprenticeship) or Advanced Apprenticeship (formerly called Advanced Modern Apprenticeship) frameworks on offer to potential learners.
	There exists no definitive classification of frameworks that corresponds to the sectors requested. For this reason the figures supplied below are presented at the level of individual frameworks, and grouped tentatively into the non-overlapping 'sectors' requested. Figures show the total numbers in learning during 2004/05 for each framework and the proportion that were men.
	
		
			  Sector  Framework Total number of apprentices Percentage of which men Total number of advanced apprentices Percentage of which men 
		
		
			 Early years care Early years care  education laboratory technicians 15,375 3 10,430 2 
			 Education Working in education 3 67 28 71 
			 Education Learning and development (direct training  support) 4 100 14 21 
			 Education Teaching assistants 12 8 9 11

Modern Apprenticeships

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many modern apprenticeships were taken in each (a) West Lancashire constituency and (b) Lancashire in the last year for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: The following table shows figures for the total number of apprentices funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in learning during 2004/05 who live in (a) the parliamentary constituency area (PCA) of West Lancashire and (b) in the local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area of Lancashire.
	
		200405
		
			  Advanced apprenticeship Apprenticeship Total 
		
		
			 West Lancashire PCA 291 630 921 
			 Lancashire LSC area 5,556 8,737 14,293

Modern Apprenticeships

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school leavers in Tamworth constituency took up a modern apprenticeship after the completion of their GCSEs in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: Figures for those participating in apprenticeships funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) derive from the Individual Learner Record (ILR). This was collated for the first time in 2001/02 (as an Interim ILR) and comparable figures are currently only available for the three following years.
	The following table shows figures for the total number of apprentices of academic age 16 in Tamworth for each year from 2002/03 to 2004/05.
	
		
			  Advanced apprenticeship Apprenticeship Total 
		
		
			 2002/03 9 110 119 
			 2003/04 7 117 124 
			 2004/05 17 91 108

National Curriculum

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in the (a) primary school and (b) secondary school sector in the Lancashire Local Education Authority area have disapplied the National Curriculum (i) in respect of specific purposes in Key Stage 4 under section 91 of the Education Act 2002, (ii) through a statement of education need and (iii) for a temporary period under section 93 of the Education Act 2002 in the last five years; and how many pupils were affected each year.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not hold records of how many primary and secondary schools have disapplied the National Curriculum in respect of specific purposes in Key Stage 4 under section 91 of the Education Act 2002, through a statement of education need or for a temporary period under section 93 of the Education Act 2002.
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) were required to monitor the use of the Key Stage 4 disapplication regulations, under section 91 of the Education Act 2002, in secondary schools up until September 2002 when this requirement was withdrawn in order to simplify the arrangements and reduce the administrative burden for schools. The last year of monitoring was 20002001 and QCA's records show that 33 secondary schools in the Lancashire local education authority area used the regulations for a total of 329 pupils. The total number of secondary schools in England that used the Key Stage 4 regulations in that academic year was 1,292, affecting 55,787 pupils.

National Schools Commissioner

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what methods the proposed National Schools Commissioner will use to match schools and new partners, as described on page 8 of the White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All.

Jacqui Smith: The Schools Commissioner will be a senior appointment and as such will play a full part in shaping how the office will work and what methods will be used. Potential promoters of new schools, existing schools interested in becoming trust schools and Local Authorities will be able to approach the Schools Commissioner who may use a variety of methods to identify a suitable trust, if required, and work with all parties to develop a partnership.

Prison Education

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to improve standards of education service delivery within the prison estate; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department, working with our partners in the Home Office and in the Department for Work and Pensions, has a programme of activity in place to improve standards of education service delivery within the prison estate and for all offender learners. This programme includes December's joint publication of the Green Paper Reducing Re-offending Through Skills and Employment; the introduction of the Learning and Skills Council to the offender learning environment through a new planning and funding role, working closely with regional offender managers; implementation of a broader, deeper curriculum (the Offender's Learning Journey); increased funding from 57 million in 200102 to 151 million in 200506); a rigorous inspection regime using the same quality benchmarks as mainstream provision; specific quality initiatives (including individual support for prisons with identified improvement needs, resources to enable good practice to be shared, and access to mainstream teacher training initiatives); increased support for higher education through the Open University; and an almost 70 per cent. increase in prison library funding between 200405 and 200607.

Pupil Performance

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what change there has been since 2003 in the performance of black and minority ethnic pupils in (a) English and (b) mathematics at each key stage.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is as follows:
	
		Key Stage 1 -- Percentage of pupils1 achieving Level 2 or above at Key Stage 1
		
			  All pupils Minority ethnic(59) Black 
		
		
			 Reading
			 2003 84 81 78 
			 2004(60) 85 82 79 
			 2005(61) 85 82 79 
			 Writing
			 2003 81 78 74 
			 2004(61) 82 78 74 
			 2005(60) 82 78 75 
			 Mathematics
			 2003 90 87 84 
			 2004(60) 90 87 84 
			 2005(61) 91 88 85 
		
	
	(58) Includes the results of pupils in maintained schools (including academies and CTCs) only.
	(59) Includes Mixed, Asian, Black and Chinese pupils.
	(60) Task/test results for 2004 are for non-trial schools only
	(61) 2005 figures are based on Teacher Assessments results
	Notes:
	Please note that 2004 and 2005 results are not directly comparable to results for 2003. This is to reflect the fact that:
	1. in 2004 a trial took place in some Local Authorities (LAs), In which only teacher assessments were submitted to the Department The remaining (non-trial) LAs continued to submit both test/task results and teacher assessments.
	2. in 2005, for the first time, all schools were only required to report teacher assessments to the Department.
	
		Key Stage 2 -- Percentage of pupils(62) achieving Level 4 or above at Key Stage 2 tests
		
			  All pupils Minority ethnic(63) Black 
		
		
			 English
			 2003 75 71 68 
			 2004 77 74 70 
			 2005 79 74 70 
			 Mathematics
			 2003 72 67 60 
			 2004 73 69 63 
			 2005 75 69 62 
		
	
	(62) Includes the results of pupils in maintained schools (including academies and CTCs) only.
	(63) Includes Mixed, Asian, Black and Chinese pupils
	
		Key Stage 3 -- Percentage of pupils(64) achieving Level 5 or above at Key Stage 3 tests
		
			  All pupils Minority ethnic(65) Black 
		
		
			 English
			 2003 69 64 56 
			 2004 71 67 62 
			 2005(66) 74 71 66 
			 Mathematics
			 2003 71 64 54 
			 2004 73 67 58 
			 2005(66) 74 68 61 
		
	
	(64) Includes the results of pupils in maintained schools (including academies and CTCs) only.
	(65) Includes Mixed, Asian, Black and Chinese
	(66) Results for 2005 are based on provisional data prior to being checked by schools as part of the Secondary (KS3) Achievement and Attainment Tables.
	
		Key Stage 4 -- GCSE and equivalent(67) results of 15 year old pupils(68)(5508940069)
		
			  All pupils Minority ethnic(70) Black 
			  Number of pupils % achieving 5+ A*C including EM Number of pupils % achieving 5+ A*C including EM Number of pupils Percentage achieving 5+ A*C including EM 
		
		
			 2003 576,084 38.9 67,194 35.2 18,945 24.0 
			 2004 591,774 40.3 69,641 37.3 19,641 26.5 
			 2005 584,703 42.3 70,063 40.1 20,369 30.1 
		
	
	(67) 2003 figures include GCSE/GNVQ results, 2004 and 2005 include GCSEs and equivalent qualifications approved for use pre-16
	(68) Age at the start of the academic year
	(69) Includes the results of pupils in maintained schools (including academies and CTCs) only.
	(70) Includes Mixed, Asian, Black and Chinese pupils

Pupil Spending

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average expenditure on education per pupil was in the (a) primary and (b) secondary sector in (i) Tameside and (ii) Stockport local education authority in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is contained within the following table.
	
		Average expenditure(71) on education per pupil in Stockport and Tameside local authorities since 199798 -- 
		
			  Primary school based expenditure per pupil(72)(5508940073)(74) Pre-primary/primary school based expenditure per pupil(72)(5508940073)(74) Secondary school based expenditure per pupil(72)(5508940073) Combined local authority and school based expenditure per pupil(75) 
			  Stockport Tameside Stockport Tameside Stockport Tameside Stockport Tameside 
		
		
			 199798(76) n/a n/a 1,570 1,590 2,110 2,190 2,430 2,400 
			 199899(76) n/a n/a 1,750 1,720 2,330 2,290 2,650 2,540 
			 19992000(77) 1,860 1,640 1,890 1,650 2,460 2,300 2,580 2,600 
			 200001 2,180 1,970 2,230 2,010 2,820 2,500 2,830 2,850 
			 200102 2,370 2,420 2,410 2,500 3,040 2,930 3,040 3,200 
			 200203 2,260 2,480 n/a n/a 2,890 2,930 3,090 3,250 
			 200304 2,460 2,610 n/a n/a 3,130 3,260 3,430 3,630 
			 200405(78) 2,720 2,750 n/a n/a 3,370 3,480 3,720 3,760 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	(71) The expenditure data to 199899 are drawn from the annual 'RO1' spending returns which local authorities submitted to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions. Figures for 19992000 to 200102 are drawn from Section 52 (Table 3) Outturn statements which local authorities submitted to the DfES. Figures for 200203 onwards are taken from Section 52 (Table A) Outturn statements. The change in sources is shown by the dotted lines.
	(72) School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by local authority schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. The pupil data are drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	(73) From 200203 the school based expenditure calculation is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 200102 and earlier years includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRO payments and other indirect employee expenses, while from 200203 only the schools element of these categories is included. In 200102 this accounted for approximately 70 per pupil of the England total, while the schools element of these categories accounted for approximately 50 per pupil of the England total in 200203. Also, for some LAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LA part of the form from 200203 and would therefore be excluded, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources.
	(74) Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 19992000.
	(75) Combined local authority and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in local authority maintained establishments and pupils educated by the authority other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA). Certain elements of central local authority expenditure cannot be attributed to a particular phase of education and consequently a sector breakdown is not available. Pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under 5s funded by the authority and being educated in private settings (only available from 19992000), pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and any other local authority maintained pupils. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	(76) Spending in 199798 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 199899.
	(77) The expenditure data for 19992000 onwards reflect the return of grant maintained schools to local authority maintenance.
	(78) 200405 data are provisional and is subject to change by the local authority.
	Note:
	Figures are as reported by the LEA in cash terms rounded to the nearest 10 and may not sum due to rounding.

Racism

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidelines local education authorities are given in relation to tackling racism in schools.

Jacqui Smith: The Department worked with the Commission for Racial Equality in drafting guidance for schools and local authorities on complying with their duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, and has since published advice to schools helping them to fulfil their obligations under this Act, and implement their statutory Race Equality Policy. Other guidance on managing exclusions to local authorities and schools advises them to take steps to ensure that they do not discriminate against pupils on the grounds of race, when making a decision whether to exclude. Schools are required to record whether a pupil has been excluded for racist abuse.
	The Schools White Paper commits us to creating Advice on countering racist bullying. The Advice, which is intended for schools and local authorities, has now been published on the Department of Education and Skills' website. Many local authorities have contributed to the compilation of the Advice. All local authorities have been invited to dissemination events to be held this term.

Refuges

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures her Department has in place to ensure that a child whose parent moves into a refuge outside the local education authority (LEA) where the child is ordinarily schooled is given a temporary school place within the new LEA area.

Jacqui Smith: A local authority has a duty to provide a school place for any child of compulsory school age residing within its area whose parent requests one. This is the case whether or not the child resides permanently in the area.
	Local authorities are expected to have a protocol in place to ensure that pupils who might have difficulties finding suitable school places are found places quickly.

Refuges

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how far from the school ordinarily attended by a child of someone who has moved into a refuge the refuge is required to be for temporary schooling nearer the refuge to be considered.

Jacqui Smith: There is no qualifying distance for a child to be considered for a temporary school place. Where the parent or carer of the child wishes the child to attend a school closer to the refuge on a temporary or permanent basis, they have the same rights as any other parent to apply for a school place. They should initially contact the local authority for the area in which the refuge is situated, because many have protocols which ensure that vulnerable children are admitted quickly into a suitable school. Local authorities are under a duty to ensure that all children of compulsory school age living in their area have a school place.

Refuges

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what average length of time a child whose parent moved into a refuge was absent from school in the last 12 months.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not hold information on whether pupils have a parent who has moved into a refuge.

School Buses

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what regulations she will introduce to ensure that private bus operators who provide school bus services under the Education and Inspections Bill have properly trained operatives.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 10 March 2006
	We have no plans to make regulations under the Education and Inspections Bill relating to the training of bus drivers.

School Capital Funding

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received from church aided schools on proposed changes to the way capital funding is channelled to schools; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: When considering options for changes to the way in which we pay capital grant to voluntary aided schools, we established a transition group which included representatives from the Foundation and Aided Schools National Association, which represents the views of many aided schools, and from local authorities, the churches and the voluntary aided sector generally. We have acted on the recommendations of that group in taking our current proposals forward. Members of that group have been fully supportive of these changes.

School Expansions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many decisions on school expansion schools organisation committees have made in each of the last five years; and how many of these decisions in each year were that schools should expand;
	(2)  how many proposals for school expansion have been referred to the schools adjudicator in each of the past five years; and how many of these have resulted in school expansion.

Jacqui Smith: The following table sets out the numbers of primary and secondary school expansion proposals that have been decided by School Organisation Committees (SOCs) and the schools adjudicator in each of the last five years:
	
		
			  SOC Schools adjudicator 
			  Approved Rejected Total Approved Rejected Total Total per year 
		
		
			 2000 41 1 42 0 2 2 44 
			 2001 50 1 51 6 1 7 58 
			 2002 89 0 89 6 1 7 96 
			 2003 46 0 46 3 0 3 49 
			 2004 36 2 38 7 1 8 46 
			 2005 25 0 25 4 1 5 30 
			 2006 1 0 (79)1 0 0 0 (79)1 
		
	
	(79) To date.
	There is a statutory duty to implement any proposals that are approved.

School Finance

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much was allocated by her Department in Bath and North East Somerset for (a) capital projects and (b) revenue funding in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much was allocated by her Department in South Gloucestershire for (a) capital projects and (b) revenue funding in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what the total expenditure was on maintenance and improvement of (a) primary, infant and junior schools and (b) secondary schools in Wansdyke constituency in each of the last eight years.

Jacqui Smith: Capital and revenue allocations made to Bath and North East Somerset local authority and its schools, and to South Gloucestershire local authority and its schools, in each of the last five years are set out in the following table:
	
		 million
		
			  Capital allocations Revenue funding 
			  Bath and North East Somerset(80) South Gloucestershire(81) Bath and North East Somerset South Gloucestershire 
		
		
			 200102 5.4 11 77.2 117.5 
			 200203 12.5 15.9 81.8 126.8 
			 200304 11.8 14.9 90.2 141.6 
			 200405 7.3 19.1 96.2 149.9 
			 200506 5.6 11 103.5 160 
		
	
	(80) Note: 200203 and 200304 included Targeted Capital Funding of 4.4 million and 4.9 million respectively.
	(81) Note: 200203 and 200405 included Targeted Capital Funding of 4.0 million and 2.5 million respectively.
	We expect local authorities and schools to take decisions on allocating capital funds for building maintenance and improvements in accordance with their local asset management plan. Accordingly, records of these categories of expenditure are not held centrally. However revenue figures are reported separately, and are shown below.
	
		Revenue expenditure on the maintenance and improvement of school buildings and grounds since 199798Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 23 February 2006 -- 
		
			  Bath and NE Somerset LA South Gloucestershire LA 
			  Primary schools Pre-primary and primary schools Secondary schools Primary schools Pre-primary and primary schools Secondary schools 
		
		
			 199798  1,056 1,132  1,196 1,518 
			 199899  1,474 1,204  1,139 1,686 
			 19992000 737 737 1,208 1,081 1,081 1,367 
			 200001 833 833 1,118 866 867 943 
			 200102 820 820 2,004 1,448 1,449 750 
			 200203 688  1,205 666  1,214 
			 200304 654  1,147 582  1,087 
			 200405 758  1,160 661  1,184 
		
	
	Note:
	All figures are 1,000's.

School Meals

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school children in each school in the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood (a) receive school meals and (b) pay for school meals.

Jacqui Smith: The table shows information on free school meals taken as well as pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals.
	Two sets of figures relating to the number and proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals are given here. The first includes all pupils in the school, regardless of their age. The second includes full time pupils aged up to (and including) 15 and part time pupils aged five to 15 (inclusive). This second coverage is as used in the Pupil Achievement Tracker and Ofsted's PANDA reports and provides consistent school level comparisons.
	Information on the number of pupils who pay for school meals is not collected centrally.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools: School meal arrangementsJanuary 2005Ruislip-Northwood parliamentary constituency
		
			 All pupils(82) 
			 URNLEA No.Estab No.School nameNumber on roll  Number of pupils taking free school meals(83)  Percentage of pupils taking free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 102368 312 2003 Bourne Primary School 230 4 1.7 15 6.5 
			 102374 312 2011 Coteford Junior School 264 29 11.0 64 24.2 
			 102375 312 2012 Coteford Infant School 217 38 17.5 38 17.5 
			 102377 312 2016 Deanesfield Primary School 553 32 5.8 55 9.9 
			 102378 312 2018 Field End Junior School 376 45 12.0 49 13.0 
			 102379 312 2019 Field End Infant School 373 33 8.8 37 9.9 
			 102381 312 2023 Harefield Junior School 224 26 11.6 69 30.8 
			 102382 312 2024 Harefield Infant School 239 20 8.4 44 18.4 
			 102383 312 2025 Hartyn Primary School 396 19 4.8 48 12.1 
			 102388 312 2032 Lady Bankes Junior School 312 43 13.8 43 13.8 
			 102389 312 2033 Lady Bankes Infant School 305 18 5.9 26 8.5 
			 102393 312 2038 Newnham Junior School 271 12 4.4 21 7.7 
			 102394 312 2039 Newnham Infant and Nursery School 302 4 1.3 16 5.3 
			 102400 312 2054 Whiteheath Junior School 315 36 11.4 36 11.4 
			 102409 312 2065 Warrender Primary School 251 (84) (84) (84) (84) 
			 102413 312 2074 Whiteheath Infant and Nursery School 334 21 6.3 26 7.8 
			 102414 312 2076 Frithwood Primary School 356 14 3.9 14 3.9 
			 102416 312 2080 Ruislip Gardens Primary School 355 51 14.4 90 25.4 
			 102417 312 3300 Bishop Winnington-Ingram CofE Primary School 434 7 1.6 9 2.1 
			 102418 312 3302 Holy Trinity CofE Primary School 257 8 3.1 11 4.3 
			 102421 312 3400 St. Swithun Wells RC Primary School 253 3 1.2 5 2.0 
			 102426 312 3405 Sacred Heart RC Primary School 492 (84) (84) 3 0.6 
			 102428 312 4006 John Penrose School 559 88 15.7 115 20.6 
			 102429 312 4600 Bishop Ramsey CofE Voluntary Aided Secondary School 1,221 34 2.8 41 3.4 
			 102434 312 5204 Hillside Infant School 234 11 4.7 18 7.7 
			 102435 312 5205 Hillside Junior School 228 23 10.1 35 15.4 
			 102441 312 5401 Haydon School 1,828 140 7.7 162 8.9 
			 102443 312 5403 Queensmead School 1,165 124 10.6 176 15.1 
			 102445 312 5405 Northwood School 1,192 96 8.1 186 15.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Pupil Achievement Tracker4 
			   URN  LEA No.  Estab No.   School name  Number of pupils Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 102368 312 2003 Bourne Primary School 203 15 7.4 
			 102374 312 2011 Coteford Junior School 264 64 24.2 
			 102375 312 2012 Coteford Infant School 171 38 22.2 
			 102377 312 2016 Deanesfield Primary School 481 55 11.4 
			 102378 312 2018 Field End Junior School 376 49 13.0 
			 102379 312 2019 Field End Infant School 262 36 13.7 
			 102381 312 2023 Harefield Junior School 224 69 30.8 
			 102382 312 2024 Harefield Infant School 176 44 25.0 
			 102383 312 2025 Hartyn Primary School 359 48 13.4 
			 102388 312 2032 Lady Bankes Junior School 312 43 13.8 
			 102389 312 2033 Lady Bankes Infant School 218 25 11.5 
			 102393 312 2038 Newnham Junior School 271 21 7.7 
			 102394 312 2039 Newnham Infant and Nursery School 239 12 5.0 
			 102400 312 2054 Whiteheath Junior School 315 36 11.4 
			 102409 312 2065 Warrender Primary School 211 (84) (84) 
			 102413 312 2074 Whiteheath Infant and Nursery School 262 20 7.6 
			 102414 312 2076 Frithwood Primary School 318 14 4.4 
			 102416 312 2080 Ruislip Gardens Primary School 309 77 24.9 
			 102417 312 3300 Bishop Winnington-Ingram CofE Primary School 401 9 2.2 
			 102418 312 3302 Holy Trinity CofE Primary School 229 11 4.8 
			 102421 312 3400 St. Swithun Wells RC Primary School 213 5 2.3 
			 102426 312 3405 Sacred Heart RC Primary School 422 3 0.7 
			 102428 312 4006 John Penrose School 524 111 21.2 
			 102429 312 4600 Bishop Ramsey CofE Voluntary Aided Secondary School 917 34 3.7 
			 102434 312 5204 Hillside Infant School 176 18 10.2 
			 102435 312 5205 Hillside Junior School 228 35 15.4 
			 102441 312 5401 Haydon School 1,337 147 11.0 
			 102443 312 5403 Queensmead School 1,005 164 16.3 
			 102445 312 5405 Northwood School 956 176 18.4 
		
	
	(82) Includes pupils with sole and dual registration of all ages.
	(83) Number of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the census in January.
	(84) Less than 3 or a rate based on less than 3
	(85) Includes pupils with sole and dual registration who are full-time and aged 0 to 15 (inclusive) and those who are part-time and aged 5 to 15 (inclusive).
	Source: Annual Schools Census

Schooling (Ruislip-Northwood)

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children attending schools in (a) the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood and (b) the London borough of Hillingdon come from outside the borough; and how many children who live in (i) the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood and (ii) the London borough of Hillingdon attend a school in another local authority.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been provided in the following table.
	
		Percentage of pupils(86) educated within (a) the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood and (b) the London borough of Hillingdon residing outside of the borough
		
			  Ruislip-Northwood London borough of Hillingdon 
			  Number of pupils in schools Number of pupils in schools from outside the borough Percentage of pupils in schools from outside the borough Number of pupils in schools Number of pupils in schools from outside the borough Percentage of pupils in schools from outside the borough 
		
		
			 Primary(87) 5,682 703 12.4 18,226 1,115 6.1 
			 Secondary(88) 4,723 1,110 23.5 14,951 2,056 13.8 
			 Special(89) 81 28 34.6 463 87 18.8 
			 Total 10,486 1,841 17.6 33,640 3,258 9.7 
		
	
	
		Percentage of pupils(86) residing within (i) the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood and (ii) the London borough of Hillingdon educated outside of the borough
		
			  Ruislip-Northwood London borough of Hillingdon 
			  Number of resident pupils Number of resident pupils educated outside of the borough Percentage of resident pupils educated outside of the borough Number of resident pupils Number of resident pupils educated outside of the borough Percentage of resident pupils educated outside of the borough 
		
		
			 Primary(87) 5,288 409 7.7 18,250 1,139 6.2 
			 Secondary(88) 4,346 706 16.2 15,048 2,153 14.3 
			 Special(89) 107 7 6.5 433 57 13.2 
			 Total 9,741 1,122 11.5 33,731 3,349 9.9 
		
	
	(86) Includes pupils aged five to 15 years, solely registered or main registration of dually registered pupils, excludes boarders.
	(87) Includes middle deemed primary.
	(88) Includes secondary, middle deemed secondary, academies and city technology colleges.
	(89) Includes special and non-maintained special.
	Source: Annual Schools Census 2005

Schools (Extended Services)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in England have involved the (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) independent sectors in providing extended services in each year for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The success of the Government's vision for all schools to provide a core offer of extended services will depend upon effective partnerships with the private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sectors. Local authorities and schools can benefit from the often long-standing skills, knowledge and experience that the PVI sectors have in delivering services for children, young people and the wider community. Through the National Remodelling Team we are encouraging schools and local authorities to involve existing PVI providers in both the strategic planning and delivery of activities.
	At this early stage in the roll-out we do not hold data on how many schools are working with the PVI sectors. But the National Remodelling Team is monitoring how extended services are being developed, looking at the sustainability of services at school level and the effectiveness of partnerships with the PVI sectors.

Sporting Academies

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the proposals in the White Paper would permit pupils to continue to be selected on sporting prowess in those schools recognised as sporting academies.

Jacqui Smith: Admission protocols that allow pupils to be admitted according to aptitude in an Academy's specialism (including sport) will remain unchanged under the proposals in the Education and Inspections Bill. Academies in general have the right to admit up to 10 per cent. of pupils according to aptitude in the Academies specialism; 11 of the 27 open Academies do so.
	Any test for a pupil's aptitude for the Academy's specialism must by law be limited to assessing that particular aptitude, and must not be a general test of ability or commitment to the school. Clause 40 of the Education and Inspections Bill if enacted would reaffirm the existing ban on any new selection by ability.

Student Exchanges

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support is provided for schools to participate in student exchange visits.

Bill Rammell: Department provides support for schools to participate in student exchange visits and links through its funding of organisations such as the British Council. Programmes include practical help with finding a partner, as well as assistance with the cost.
	Increasingly, school links are being made and sustained through use of ICT. Our main focus for encouraging and facilitating new school links is the Global Gateway (www.globalgateway.org). through which schools can find a partner in another country. The site also provides advice and guidance on making international links work well, funding opportunities and gives access to other quality-assured and relevant websites. My Department also funds a wide range of school-linking programmes delivered by partner organisations.
	EU funding is also available through the Socrates Programme's Comenius action, the European programme for school education. The programme is open to the 25 member states, the EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the applicant countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. Seminars for schools wishing to find partners are held regularly across Europe. The British Council publicises the programme, and holds UK regional briefing meetings to promote the opportunities. The Partbase database (partbase.eupro.se) provides schools with an on-line search facility for finding Comenius partners.

Supply Teachers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of lessons in (a) secondary schools and (b) primary schools were taken by supply teachers in (i) 200304 and (ii) 200405, broken down by local education authority.

Jacqui Smith: The information is not collected centrally.

Sure Start

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many under-fives she expects to participate in the Sure Start programme in (a) the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood, (b) the London borough of Hillingdon, (c) Greater London and (d) England in 200607.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested by constituency is not available. Information for 200607 is not available yet as local authorities are currently planning where and when centres in the 200608 phase will open. In the first phase, to 2006, the London borough of Hillingdon have planned a single centre for around 600 children under five, while in the Greater London area an estimated 184,300 children will be reached. Across England as a whole we estimate 894,000 children under five and their families will have access to children's centres' services. By the end of the second phase, that is by March 2008, we expect Sure Start children's centres will provide services for around 10,500 children aged under five in the London borough of Hillingdon, 373,600 children aged under five in Greater London and 2,132,300 children aged under five in England.

Sure Start (Oxford)

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what allocation has been made for Sure Start programmes in Oxford City for each year since its inception.

Beverley Hughes: Allocations for Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) and Children's Centres were as follows.
	
		
			  Rosehill SSLP (Oxford City) Abingdon Mini SSLP (Oxfordshire) Children's Centres (Oxfordshire) Total Revenue Funding Children's Centres Capital Funding 
		
		
			 19992000 146,432 - - 146,432 - 
			 200001 808,673 - - 808,673 - 
			 200102 934,855 - - 934,855 - 
			 200203 1,058,500 110,757 - 1,169,257 - 
			 200304 1,058,500 120,000 42,750 1,221,250 - 
			 200405 1,084,963 100,000 113,531 1,298,494 50,250 
			 200506 1,112,087 100,000 157,712 1,369,799 452,249 
		
	
	In addition, the Rosehill and Abingdon programmes had capital allocations of 1.423 million and 0.250 million respectively. These are not included in the table as there were no specific annual allocations.
	Sure Start children's centre allocations are only available for Oxfordshire. It is for the local authority and their delivery partners to decide how and where the funding is spent within their area.

Teenage Conception

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards reducing the under-18 conception rate by 50 per cent. by 2010.

Beverley Hughes: Steady progress is being made on reducing the under-18 conception rate. Data for 2004 (published in February 2006) shows that since the 1998 baseline year, the under-18 conception rate has fallen by 11.1 per cent. and the under-16 rate has fallen by 15.2 per cent. Both rates are now at their lowest levels since the mid-1980s. However, the current rate of decline needs to accelerate if we are to achieve the PSA target to halve the under-18 conception rate by 2010.
	During the next phase of the strategy, we will focus on strengthening delivery in local areas with static or increasing rates, using the evidence of what works from areas where rates have fallen most. We will also be strengthening the links between local teenage pregnancy strategies and the policies and programmes locally that tackle the underlying causes of teenage pregnancy, such as poverty, poor educational attainment and low post-16 participation in education, employment or training.

Teenage Conception

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teenage pregnancies there were in Tamworth constituency in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The latest data on under-18 conception rates (2004 provisional data)which were published by the Office for National Statistics on 23 February 2006are only available at top-tier local authority, not district level. This data shows that steady progress is being made on reducing the under-18 conception rate. Since the 1998 baseline year, the under-18 conception rate in England has fallen by 11.1 per cent. and the under-16 rate has fallen by 15.2 per cent. Both rates are now at their lowest levels since the mid-1980s.
	2004 data for Staffordshire show that performance is exceeding the progress made in England as a whole. The under-18 conception rate in Staffordshire has fallen by 20 per cent.-from a rate of 43.2 per 1,000 females aged 1517 (635 conceptions) in 1998, to a rate of 34.6 per 1,000 (550 conceptions) in 2004.
	District-level data for 2003 show a rate reduction in Tamworth of 21.8 per cent. between 1998 and 2003. There were 82 under-18 conceptions in 1998 (a rate of 55.7 per 1,000), falling to 71 conceptions in 2003 (a rate of 43.6 per 1,000). 2004 district-level data will be published later this year.

Undergraduates

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what proportion of first year university undergraduates were from (a) comprehensives, (b) secondary moderns, (c) grammar schools and (d) private schools;
	(2)  what proportion of pupils from (a) comprehensive, (b) secondary modern and (c) grammar schools go on to (i) study at university and (ii) receive a degree-level qualification.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) showing the previous school type of students obtaining places in 2005 is shown in the table. The figures are limited to students who applied to full-time undergraduate courses via the UCAS, so they do not therefore cover part-time students nor those full-time students who apply directly to Higher Education Institutions.
	
		UK domiciled students accepted to full-time undergraduate courses via UCAS Higher Education Institutions in England, autumn 2005
		
			 Previous school type Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Comprehensive 70,454 29.2 
			 Grammar 12,056 5.0 
			 Further/Higher Education establishments 106,199 43.9 
			 Independent schools 28,765 11.9 
			 Other(90) 24,173 10.0 
			 All known 241,647 100.0 
			 Unknown 60,151 - 
			 Total 301,798 - 
		
	
	Source:
	UCAS.
	(90) Includes students from Secondary Modern schools, which are not identified separately.
	Definitive information on the progression of secondary school students to higher education by school type is not routinely collected. However, the Youth Cohort Study (YCS) can provide estimates of participation in higher education for young people. The first column in the table below shows participation rates in higher education (HE) by academic age 19 (ie by the fourth year after completing compulsory education) by secondary school type attended in year 11. The second column shows the proportion of an earlier cohort who had obtained an HE qualification by the time they had reached academic age 21 (ie in the sixth year following completion of compulsory education).These rates in the second column are lower than they would be at older age groups because many young people either take a gap year and/or take courses lasting more than three years. The YCS has not surveyed young people beyond the age of 21.
	
		
		
			   Year 11 school type In HE by 19(ie at 18 and/or 19) (2005) HE qualification obtained by 21 (2001) 
		
		
			 Comprehensive 36 17 
			 Secondary modern 30 10 
			 Grammar 80 33 
			 Independent 82 27 
			 Total 40 18 
		
	
	Source:
	Youth Cohort Study Cohorts 11 (2005 data-total sample size 5,902) and 8 (2001 data-total sample size 5,466).

Testing

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will introduce level 6 tests for Key Stage 2 mathematics and English.

Jacqui Smith: No. The National Curriculum programme of study for Key Stage 2 covers attainment at levels 3 to 5 and the coverage of the tests reflects this. The majority of children are expected to attain level 4 at the end of the key stage. However, teacher assessment is also an essential part of national curriculum assessment and reporting arrangements and teachers may assess pupils' attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 as being at level 6. Optional tasks that teachers may use to support their assessment at that level are available from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

University Students

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people aged 18 to 24 resident in the Peterborough constituency were registered students at UK universities in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is shown in the table.
	
		Students(91) aged under 25 on Higher Education courses at UK Higher education institutions
		
			  Total Total with known postcodes(92) Of which: from Peterborough constituency(92) 
		
		
			 1997/98 980,245 764,630 1,085 
			 1998/99 1,005,740 832,100 1,220 
			 1999/00 1,019,600 859,250 1,275 
			 2000/01 1,043,910 882,940 1,290 
			 2001/02 1,082,180 920,675 1,310 
			 2002/03 1,133,905 956,720 1,320 
			 2003/04 1,172,220 989,340 1,360 
			 2004/05 1,196,815 1,009,765 1,335 
		
	
	(91) Covers students from the UK and overseas on postgraduate and undergraduate courses.
	(92) Students from Peterborough are identified by reference to their home postcode.
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).